AUSTIN — As Austin's students get ready to begin a new school year, Police Chief Brian Manley and the police department are working to make sure they are safe.
Chief Manley shared some safety tips on Twitter Sunday for those students who plan to walk or ride their bike to school.
"Tomorrow marks the beginning of a new school year for Austin-area children," said the police department in a release on Sunday. "One of APD's top priorities is helping ensure our children get to school safely, whether traveling by bus, foot, bike or car. Our goal is to provide Austin children the safest environment while traveling to and from school."
So, the APD said they will be conducting a "Back-to-School Traffic Safety Initiative" from August 20 to 31. It will be the first of multiple School Zone Traffic Safety Initiatives that will continue throughout the school year.
As part of enforcement, officers will focus on catching drivers committing the following violations:
- Using wireless communication devices; including the use of any cell phone, with the exception of “hands-free,” for making calls, texting, emailing or messaging.
- Speeding in school zones.
- Disregarding school crossing guards.
- Failing to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks.
- Passing school buses while loading and unloading.
- Following too closely or aggressive driving behavior that may endanger children or parents.
The APD is also reminding drivers to:
- Provide yourself with extra time when leaving to work or coming home in the afternoon. The beginning of the new school year always means more vehicles and pedestrians traveling on our roadways.
- Buckle up! Make sure you and your children wear seat belts when traveling in a vehicle. Remember, child passenger safety seats are required for children under eight years of age or children less than 4’9” tall.
- Put down your cell phone. In addition to the City’s Hands-Free Ordinance, the State of Texas prohibits the use of any wireless communication device while in a school zone unless their vehicle is stopped or they’re using a “hands-free” device.
- Slow down and take the time to look again at intersections or anywhere children and parents are walking to and from school. Whether on foot, bike or bus, the APD wants everyone to arrive alive.
- Be courteous to other drivers and drive safely.
APD tips for pedestrians:
- Use a crossing guard if one is available and follow their instructions.
- Always cross at intersections. Look left, then right, then left again before proceeding.
- Look for traffic when stepping off a bus or from behind parked cars.
- Passengers should enter/exit a car from the curb side of the street.
- Make eye contact with drivers before you cross the street.
- Walk with children to show them the correct way to cross at a crosswalk.
APD tips for bikers:
- Wear a helmet and any other safety gear needed.
- Use a backpack to carry your school supplies and gear.
- Learn and use hand signals.
- Watch for traffic and obey traffic laws.
APD tips regarding "stranger danger":
- You can help by engaging with your children, discussing personal safety and stranger danger.
- Teach your children to watch out for strangers in cars, anyone that follows them in a car or yells out to them.
- Children should never approach a stranger in a car or get in a car with a stranger.
- They should never accept any kind of gift -- candy, etc. -- from a stranger.
- If a stranger approaches them on foot or in a vehicle, teach them to run and tell an adult
- Don’t talk to strangers.
- Don’t go anywhere with someone you don’t know.
- Stay more than an arm’s reach from strangers. If you are approached by a stranger, seek help immediately.
- Trust your instincts, if you feel you are being followed or something is not right, seek help immediately.
- Use the buddy system, avoid walking alone.
- Review contact telephone numbers and home safety practices with your children.
- When seeking help, always go to a trusted adult -- teacher, coach, police officer, other parent or older siblings.
- If a stranger grabs you, do everything you can to stop him or her from pulling you away. Drop to the ground, kick, hit, bite and scream. Do whatever it takes to attract the attention of others who can help you. If someone is dragging you away, scream, “this is not my dad,” or “this is not my mom!”
- Report any suspicious activity to your local school and the police department.