Full Notification

School is Open, Drive Carefully. 
 
School began this week in Lafayette.  As our children are traveling to and from school, traffic safety is critically important.   Here are some traffic safety tips which can prevent accidents and save lives:
 
SLOW DOWN!!!  School zone speed limits are 25 MPH.  However, due to road conditions and pedestrians, the safe speed may actually be lower.  Remember, even at 25 MPH, your average stopping distance is about 120 feet.

• Traffic Congestion – Anticipate more cars on the roads due to school related traffic.  Please budget additional travel time so you don’t have to rush.
• Stop and Yield to Pedestrians in Crosswalks – Drivers are required to stop until the pedestrian is out of the crosswalk (not just your lane) before you drive through it.
• You Are Required to Stop when a School Bus Stops and is Displaying Flashing Red Lights – You must STOP both when you are BEHIND the bus and APPROACHING the bus from the FRONT. 
• Be Alert for Children Riding or Walking Their Bicycles – Remember that kids may be focused upon their friends or getting to school – not on the cars around them.
• Don’t Text and Drive! – only use the hands-free option for your phone and be careful of being distracted while driving.  NOTE:  holding your phone in your hand and using the speaker is NOT hands free.
• Talk with Your Teens about Safe Driving – Car crashes are the leading cause of teen deaths – 40% of these crashes involve speed and 25% occur during after school hours.

 The Lafayette Police Department will be actively enforcing traffic laws around our schools as we work to keep our streets safe for kids.  Please don’t become a statistic by receiving a citation or, worse, being involved in an accident.
 
For questions about traffic safety, please call the Lafayette Police Department at 925-283-3680. 
To report a non-emergency incident, please call Dispatch at 925-284-5010.  For Emergencies, call 9-1-1.
 
Please drive safely and slowly while watching out for kids on and around our roadways.
 
Lafayette Police Department Traffic Email: [email protected]
 
Lafayette Police Department General Email:
[email protected]