With more than 12,000 students across the North Olympic Peninsula headed back to school this week, the streets will be busier with cars, pedestrians, buses and bicycles.
And kids.
“It’s time for the community to dust off its safety hat,” Sequim Police Chief Robert Spinks said in a prepared statement.
Port Angeles Police Chief Tom Riepe also cautioned parents and any one else on the road.
“It’s important to pay attention to speeds at all times,” he said.
“Citizens really need to slow down near school zones.”
When children are present the speed limit in school zones is 20 mph.
Riepe urged drivers — especially parents that drop their kids off at school — to be patient and considerate and to avoid stopping in crosswalks and pulling onto the wrong side of the street.
Port Angeles Police Administrative Sgt. Ed Schilke said parents can help keep drop-offs and pick-ups safe.
“Parents really need to be aware of themselves and what kind of problems they may be causing when picking up kids,” he said.
One safety tip offered by both departments is teaching kids not to burst out of the car and into a sprint soon as they arrive at school.
“Parents need to plan an extra five minutes,” Riepe said.