School's Open Drive Safely - With area students returning…

School's Open Drive Safely -

With area students returning to school today, and tomorrow, Oneida County Sheriff Robert Maciol wants to ensure the safest possible return for all.

Taking proper safety precautions will ensure a safe school year for everyone. School buses are picking up children. Kids walking and on bikes are hurrying to get to school before the bell rings. Parents are trying to drop their kids off before work.

With this in mind, this is a great opportunity for drivers to brush up on a couple of back to school driving tips:

* Obey all speed limits.

* Don’t make U-turns.

* Be crosswalk aware. Watch out for pedestrians crossing.

* Do not block traffic by stopping in the middle of the street to load or unload students.

* Buckle up! Use seat belts and safety seats.

* Obey all curb markings.

* Do not stop across the street from the school. This encourages children to run across the street through traffic.

* When a school bus stops and flashes its red lights, traffic approaching from either direction must stop before reaching the bus:

On a two-lane road

On multi-lane highways

On divided highways

YELLOW LIGHTS FLASHING- This means the bus is going to stop. SLOW DOWN and DO NOT ACCELERATE TO GET PAST IT!!

RED LIGHTS FLASHING-This means students are getting on or off the bus. STOP YOUR VEHICLE

Surveys conducted by the New York Association for Pupil Transportation (NYAPT) in partnership with Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee (GTSC) show that approximately 50,000 motorists illegally pass school buses statewide each school day.