Saratoga News SRO and local schools stress back-to-school safety tips By Michelle Alaimo Saratoga schools and the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Department are banding together to help make traffic congestion around schools more bearable--and safer--for kids. School resource officer Ron Breuss is asking parents to get out of the "commute mode" when coming and going from schools. This includes paying attention to what is going on around them, following the established flow of traffic and staying off the cellular phone when taking children to and from school, Breuss said. "Cooperation by all parents is essential for the safety of flow for drop-off and pick-up of kids," Breuss said. At many schools, Breuss said, parents are parking or stopping down the street from the school and letting their children out at those locations, assuming other cars will stop for them. However, both Breuss and Saratoga School Principal Marybarbara Zorio said speeders and people talking on cell phones are causing safety problems. Zorio said it makes for a "very unsafe situation." Breuss added that the speed limit in residential neighborhoods--where most schools are located--is 25 mph. However, he said a good rule of thumb is that parents drive no more than five or 10 mph on school grounds, because you never know when a child will run out in front of your vehicle. Principals are getting involved in reminding parents of traffic dangers as well by printing guidelines in school newsletters. In Zorio's newsletter, she asks parents to be patient, to keep the crosswalk clear and to not line up to pick up children until at least five minutes before dismissal. Argonaut Elementary School Principal Sue Brooks reminds parents in her newsletter to not park in red zones and to not make U-turns on or near crosswalks. And both principals remind parents that citations will be issued by the sheriff's department when necessary. Whether students are walking or getting a ride, Breuss said parents need to remind children of all the dangers of going to and from school. To aid with pedestrians, many schools are also setting up safety patrols, made up of both children and adults. Breuss adds that children should walk in groups, know a family password and never accept rides from strangers. And kids riding their bikes need to be aware of the traffic around them, Breuss said. He adds that helmets are required for all children 16 and younger. With the growing number of students currently and the increased growth projected over the next 10 years in student population, Breuss said there will be more commuters. He said he hopes that by working together with schools and parents, "we can have the safe arrival and departure of kids in an orderly manner." [ Back to Contents Page | Saratoga News Home Page | Archives ] This article appeared in the Saratoga News, October 21, 1998. ©1998 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.