School resumes this week; please drive safely and watch for pedestrians

The new school year begins next week, and that means cars and people need to share the streets in a safe manner.

The Village has recently enhanced several crosswalks by installing push-button activated, yellow-rectangular rapid flashing beacons, commonly known as RRFBs (pictured left).

These have been installed near Westbrook School at Greenwood and Bellwood; near Attea School at Chestnut and Enterprise; and on Chestnut Avenue at the east entrance of Park Center. Existing RRFBs are located on Chestnut Avenue at Sequoia, and two on Pfingsten Road at Keenan and at Miller.

Pedestrians should use the push-button to activate the flashing beacon but still use caution when entering an intersection. Be sure to look both ways and ensure drivers are yielding before proceeding into the crosswalk.

Pedestrians may not leave the curb and step into traffic -- even at a marked crosswalk -- when doing so would constitute an immediate hazard.

Here are a few safety tips for motorists:

• Don't block the crosswalk when stopped at a red light or waiting to make a turn, forcing pedestrians to go around you; this could put them in the path of moving traffic
• In a school zone when flashers are blinking, stop and yield to pedestrians crossing the crosswalk or intersection
• Always stop for a school patrol officer or crossing guard holding up a stop sign
• Take extra care to look for children in school zones, near playgrounds and parks, and in all residential areas
• Don't honk or rev your engine to scare a pedestrian, even if you have the right of way
• Never pass a vehicle stopped for pedestrians
• Always use extreme caution to avoid striking pedestrians wherever they may be, no matter who has the right of way
• Stay focused on the road and silence devices; even hands-free devices can cause distracting driving

When driving near a school bus (see graphic below):

• Never pass a bus from behind – or from either direction if you're on an undivided road – if it is stopped to load or unload children
• If the yellow or red lights are flashing and the stop arm is extended, traffic must stop
• The area 10 feet around a school bus is the most dangerous for children; stop far enough back to allow them space to safely enter and exit the bus
• Be alert; children often are unpredictable, and they tend to ignore hazards and take risks
• More school bus safety information can be found here