Rialto, Calif. – As summer draws to a close and students prepare to return to school, the Rialto Police Department reminds all drivers to prioritize safety during Back to School Month by slowing down, following the speed limit, and being extra cautious when driving through school zones.
"During Back to School Month, let's make safety behind the wheel our top priority to protect our children,” said Chief Mark P. Kling. "We urge every driver to slow down, stay alert, and take extra precautions when navigating school zones. By doing so, we can create a safer environment for everyone and foster a community where safety is a shared responsibility.”
The Rialto Police Department offers the following tips to stay safe around schools: • Slow down and follow the speed limit. • Adhere to school policies and procedures for dropping off and picking up students. • Stop for school buses. Watch for children rushing to catch the bus or exiting. • Whenever possible, avoid blocking the crosswalk while waiting to make a right-hand turn. • For parents with children walking or biking to school, teach them safe walking and riding behaviors, such as looking both ways before crossing the street, using sidewalks when available, and crossing at marked crosswalks with stop signs or signals.
If you are behind a school bus with a stop sign and flashing red lights, you must stop so students can safely get on and off the bus. Drivers must remain stopped while the red lights are on. On any two-lane road without a median or a center turn lane, drivers in both directions must stop.
Sergeant Dan Smith
Rialto Police Department
(909) 820-2550
Date: August 22, 2024
