Back-To-School In Long Valley Approaches, Police Give Safety Tips

LONG VALLEY, NJ — The first day of school in the Washington Township Public School District is quickly approaching, and police are encouraging drivers to remain vigilant as more children will be walking and biking to school.

"With the start of the new school year comes an increase in both vehicular and pedestrian traffic. Watch for children, particularly in the morning or mid-afternoon, around school arrival and dismissal times," Washington Township Police said.

Members of the Washington Township Police Department are encouraging drivers to leave plenty of time for travel and to pay close attention to the road when driving, especially in school zones.

In Washington Township, school buses are equipped with cameras that record the license plates of vehicles whose drivers choose to ignore red lights. Drivers should avoid passing a stopped school bus with its warning lights on, and they should be cautious of children crossing at intersections.

The first day of school for grades 1-8 students is Thursday, Sept. 1. Students in high school started a little earlier, with their first official day on Aug. 24.

Here are some safety tips from the Police Department to ensure a safe school year and protect Long Valley's youngest pedestrians:

• Stop for pedestrians in marked crosswalks.
• Watch for pedestrians when turning right on red.
• Using the sidewalk whenever possible, and if there is not 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.
• Cross at intersections only.
• Make sure you never play, push or shove others when you walk around traffic.
• Yellow flashing lights on a school bus mean slow down—do not speed up—because the bus is preparing to stop.
• Red flashing lights mean stop—and wait at least 20 feet from the bus—because children are getting on or off the school bus. Stay stopped until the red lights stop flashing, the extended stop-arm is withdrawn, and the bus begins moving.

"Let’s work together to keep our children and each other safe. Thank you and let’s have a great start to the school year," police said.