Drivers Beware: School’s About to Start

It's that time of the year again, where the lunch boxes are packed, backpacks are filled and school-aged kids are ready to hit the Gilroy streets on their walk to school.

But drivers and pedestrians alike should beware, as it’s a shared responsibility to keep roadways safe whether you’re on foot or behind the wheel. Gilroy police will be taking a proactive approach, with plans to be out in force to ensure a safe journey to school for all students.

“We receive grant money for extra deployment for extra patrols during the school year; we take safety into consideration and one of our main priorities is not just enforcement but also that drivers are educated on the traffic laws and safety issues,” said Gilroy Police Public Information Officer Sgt. Chad Gallacinao.

Failing to adhere to school zone speed limits of 25 miles per hour, blocking roadways, making illegal U-turns and failure to obey traffic signs could land you with a hefty ticket or worse, an injured child, officials warn.

In 2009, an estimated 59,000 pedestrians were injured, according to the National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration; 13,000 of those injured were age 14 and younger, and boys accounted for 55 percent, or 7,000, of those 13,000 hurt. The NHTSA finds that motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children from 3 to 14 years old.

Gallacinao says safety is a combined responsibility that doesn’t rest with just one entity. “The school district and police take school safety seriously and it’s a combined responsibility to make sure kids are safe at school and leaving school," he said. "Drivers need to take precautions, students need to be on alert, police have to patrol, we all have to do our part, it doesn’t rest with one entity.”

School zone safety is a full county effort. South Bay law enforcement agencies are planning to increase patrols everywhere to ensure a safe journey for students and drivers alike.

“We’ll have our traffic units near all schools and routes to school, especially with major intersections,” said Sgt. Troy Smith, Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office public information officer. “Basically we’re looking to make everything run smoothly and we’re out there to warn or cite drivers who aren’t abiding by traffic laws.”

Drivers should pay attention when driving on all roads, but more than ever with city streets being flooded with walkers. Morning drive times between 7:30 a.m. and 9 a.m. are especially significant, as well as the after school times of 2:30 p.m. through dusk.

More than ever, drivers should avoid being distracted from the act of driving, Gallacinao says. While driving, he warns, “Be safe, be courteous and be patient.”

Parents should also talk with their children before ushering them out the door. Officials warn that elementary school children are impulsive and still need guidance and share are a few tips the NHTSA shares with parents:

When walking:
- Walk on the sidewalk, if one is available.
- Walk facing traffic if no sidewalk is available.
- Don’t assume vehicles will stop. Make eye contact with drivers.
- Don’t rely solely on pedestrian signals, look before you cross the road
- Be sure to let a crossing guard know that you are waiting to cross the street

When crossing the street:
- Cross at a corner or crosswalk with the walk signal.
- Stop at the curb.
- Exaggerate looking LEFT-RIGHT-LEFT for traffic in all directions before and while crossing the street. Explain you are looking for either no traffic or that traffic has stopped for you to cross safely.
- Hold your child’s hand when crossing the street.
- Cross when it is clear and keep looking for cars as you cross.
- Walk, don’t run or dart, into the street.  
- Look for signs that a car is about to move (rear lights, exhaust smoke, sound of motor, wheels turning). 
- Walk alertly; use your eyes and your ears to increase your safety.