As Sunnyvale schools reopen next week for in person teaching, we would like to remind drivers to be extra vigilant for school children walking and biking on the roadways. Drivers, make sure to always yield to pedestrians and do not forget the “Three Feet for Safety Act”, which requires that drivers give cyclists a 3 foot buffer zone before attempting to pass.
Parents, while our Traffic Unit will be out in full force helping keep roadways safe for school children when schools reopen, we ask that you too go over safety reminders with your kids. It’s important that children are always vigilant and aware of their surroundings when walking or biking. Here are some pointers to go over with them:
Biking Safety:
•Always wear a correctly fitted helmet, and securely fasten the chin strap.
•Ride in the same direction as traffic, and follow traffic signs and signals.
•Stay in the bike lane whenever possible.
•Never use electronics while riding – they are distracting.
Walking Safety:
•Use the sidewalk whenever possible, and if there isn’t a sidewalk, walk on the edge of the street facing traffic.
•Whenever they are available, use marked crosswalks to cross the street, and look left-right-left for vehicles or bikes before crossing.
•Make sure you never play, push or shove others when you walk around traffic.
•Everyone should watch the road, not their phones.
Bus Safety:
•Stay five steps away from the curb.
•Always wait until the bus comes to a complete stop and the bus driver signals for you to board.
•Face forward after finding a seat on the bus.
•Exit the bus when it stops and look left-right-left for cars before crossing a street.
Let’s all work hard to keep our roadways safe for children returning to school. Whether you’re a driver, pedestrian, bicyclist, or bus rider – stay alert and drive safely.
Wishing Sunnyvale students and teachers an amazing new school year!
