Beware Students On The Road As They Head Back To School: Cherry Hill Police

Cherry Hill, NJ -- Cherry Hill Police are reminding residents to share the road with pedestrians, bicyclists and school buses as students return to school next week.

“Whether children walk, ride their bicycle or take the bus to school, it is extremely important that they - and the motorists around them - take proper safety precautions,” police said in a Facebook statement.

Police provided the following tips to make the school year a safe and happy one for the community:

Tips for Drivers:

• When a school bus or children are present slow down and proceed with caution, obeying all traffic laws and speed limits.
• The State Law requires you to STOP for a school bus that has red flashing lights. The extended stop arm also tells you the school bus is stopped to load or unload children.
• If you are on a two-lane roadway, you must stop. If you are on a roadway that has two or more travel lanes traveling in each direction and you are traveling the same direction as the bus, you must stop. If you are on a roadway that has at least two or more travel lanes traveling in each direction and you are approaching, meeting the bus, you do not have to stop, merely proceed with caution.
• Be alert and ready to stop. *Watch for children walking in the street, especially where there are no sidewalks. Watch for children playing and gathering near bus stops. Watch for children arriving late for the bus, who may dart into the street without looking for traffic.
• When backing out of a driveway or leaving a garage, watch for children walking or biking to school.
• When driving in neighborhoods or school zones, watch for young people who may be in a hurry to get to school and may not be thinking about getting there safely.

Tips for Students:

• Always wear a helmet and follow traffic safety rules when riding your bike
• If you ride a school bus, learn and practice the safety rules for waiting at the bus stop, getting on and off the bus, and riding the bus.
• If you walk to school, learn and practice the safety rules for pedestrians. Always cross at cross walks, obey all traffic signs and traffic lights.
• Be a good role model for your younger brothers and sisters and friends, and help them learn and practice the safety rules.