Drive Smart for Back-to-School Month: Slow and Look for Children

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SANTA BARBARA, CA – August 15, 2024

As summer draws to a close and students prepare to return to school, the Santa Barbara Police Department reminds all drivers to prioritize safety during the upcoming Back to School Month by slowing down, following the speed limit, and being extra careful driving through school zones.

“During Back-to-School Month, let’s prioritize safety behind the wheel to protect our children,” Santa Barbara Police Department Traffic Sergeant Douglas Klug said. “We urge every driver to slow down, remain alert, and take extra precautions when navigating through school zones. By doing so, we can create a safer environment for everyone and foster a community where safety is a shared responsibility. As school starts up again, SBPD will have officers patrolling the roads around schools, and will be conducting traffic enforcement stops for safety violations.

The Santa Barbara Police Department offers the following tips to stay safe around schools:

• Slow down and follow the speed limit.
• Adhere to school policies and procedures for dropping off and picking up students.
• Stop for school buses. Watch for children rushing to catch the bus or exiting.
• Whenever possible, avoid blocking the crosswalk while waiting to make a right-hand turn.
• For parents with children walking or biking to school, teach them safe walking and riding behaviors, such as looking both ways before crossing the street, using sidewalks when permissible and available, and crossing at marked crosswalks with stop signs or signals.

If you are behind a school bus with a stop sign and flashing red lights, drivers must stop so students can safely get on and off the bus. Drivers must remain stopped while the red lights are on. Drivers in both directions must stop on any two-lane road without a median or a center turn lane.