Full Notification

It was good while it lasted: summer vacations,
swimming pool parties and days at the beach.
However, it’s time to start thinking about back-to school
activities with a reminder about safety and
the expectations of increased traffic as students head
back to school.
With more distractions in traffic, it’s important to
slow down and pay attention. The Seal Beach Police
Department would like to remind drivers to take
extra precautions at the beginning of the school year.
Don’t rush. The first few weeks of the school year
are extremely busy, so leave yourself extra time to
travel to your destination. Enter and exit driveways
and alleys slowly and carefully, watching for children
and other pedestrians. Reduce any distractions inside
your car so you can concentrate on the road and your
surroundings.
Come to a complete stop at all stop signs and for red
lights. Remember, Crossing Guards, Police Volunteers,
and pedestrians of all ages have the right of way.
The law requires that you stop for pedestrians in the
crosswalk. Also, watch for school buses with their
stop signs extended and red lights flashing. Motorists
must stop until all children have safely crossed the
roadway. It may be tempting to drive around stopped
school buses, but not only is it dangerous, it’s against
the law.
Please be observant of the many Crossing Guards and
Police Volunteers that assist your children going to and
from school. Slow down and obey them. Motorists in
particular need to watch out for the safety of children
on foot and on bicycles. Parents are reminded to obey
McGaugh’s traffic and parking plan.
Members of the Seal Beach Police Department will
be providing closer patrols during the first week of
school. Please review pedestrian and bicycle safety
information with your children. If we take our time
and make obeying traffic laws a priority, the first days
of school can be safe ones for our children. Thank you
for your partnership in keeping our children safe.
-Chief Joe, Seal Beach Chief of Police

Walking to School

• Leave early enough to arrive at least 10 minutes
prior to the start of school.
• Use the same route every day and never use
shortcuts.
• Go straight home after school. Do not go
anywhere else without permission.
• Always use public sidewalks and streets when
walking to school.
• Demonstrate traffic safety awareness. Pick the
safest route between your home and the school
and practice walking it with your children.
• Try and walk to school with other students. There
is strength in numbers.
• Teach your children to recognize and obey traffic
signals, signs, and pavement markings.
• Only cross streets at designated crosswalks, street
corners and traffic controlled intersections.
• Always look both ways before crossing the street
and never enter streets from between obstacles
like parked cars, shrubbery, signs, etc.
• Always walk and never run across intersections.
• Avoid talking to strangers. Teach your children
to get distance between themselves and anyone
who tries to approach or make contact with them.
• If a stranger does approach your child, make sure
they know to immediately report the incident to
you or a teacher.
• Teach your children to never get into a vehicle
with anyone, even if they know them, without
your permission.

Riding Your Bike to School

• Make sure your child always wears a bicycle
helmet! Failure to wear one could result in a
traffic citation. Furthermore, in the event of an
accident, helmets reduce the risk of head injury
by as much as 85 percent.
• Obey the rules of the road: the rules are the same
for all vehicles, including bicycles.
• Always stay on the right-hand side of the road and
ride in the same direction as traffic.
• Be sure your child knows and uses all of the
appropriate hand signals.
• Choose the safest route between home and
school, then practice it with your children until
they can demonstrate traffic safety awareness.
• If possible, try to ride with someone else. There is
safety in numbers.

School Bus Safety

• Make a habit of arriving at the bus stop at least
five minutes prior to the scheduled arrival of the
bus.
• Make sure your child stays out of the street and
avoids excessive horseplay while waiting for the
school bus.
• When riding the bus, make sure your child
understands they must remain seated and keep
their head and arms inside the bus at all times.
• Do not walk in the driver’s “blind spot” — this is
the area from the front of the bus to about 10 feet
in front of the bus.

School Zone Driving Safety

• Be on the lookout for school zone signals and
ALWAYS obey the speed limits.
• When entering a school zone, be sure to slow
down and obey all traffic laws.
• Always stop for school buses that are loading or
unloading children.
• Watch out for school crossing guards and obey
their signals.
• Be aware of and watch out for children near
schools, bus stops, sidewalks, in the streets, in
school parking lots, etc.
• Never pass other vehicles while driving in a
school zone.
• Never change lanes while driving in a school
zone.
• Never make u-turns while driving in a school
zone.
• Never text while driving.
• Avoid using a cell phone, unless it is completely
hands-free.
• Unless licensed to do so, never use handicap or
emergency vehicle lanes or spaces to drop off or
pick up children at school.