Ask the Chief

School is quickly approaching, and before you know it kids will be walking to school, riding their bikes to school and waiting for buses to take them to school.

This means there will be a lot of kids crossing our streets and they may not always be thinking about their safety.

That’s why I’m asking you to slow down and watch for kids. As adults, we need to be even more vigilant in protecting the young people in our community when they are on the streets.

If you see kids standing at an intersection, stop your car and let them cross.

Don’t assume that children see you or that they are going to stop. If you find yourself behind or facing a school bus, make sure you give them at least 50 feet of clearance and be prepared for them to stop and let kids off the bus.

Keep in mind that driving past a school bus with an extended stop arm is a serious traffic offense and if kids are out of the bus it is a very serious offense that will result in an expensive fine and your car insurance rates going up.

For you to be convicted of this offense, all that is needed is for a school bus driver or another witness to call me saying they witnessed you drive through a stop arm and give me your name or license plate number.

My goal is to make sure that every child makes it to school and then back home safely. I would appreciate your help in reaching this goal.