As of today, all elementary and secondary schools in Central Utah are in operation. That means that thousands of kids are on the streets going to or from the schools.
This should be a signal to all, and especially motorists and the youngsters themselves: Be careful!
Students who walk to school should use the crosswalks and not be guilty of “jaywalking.” Where a safety patrolman is stationed on a street, pedestrians should use his services and not cross at some other point.
Motorists should slow down when students are walking, and be sure to grant the right-of-way when this rightfully belongs to the pedestrian. But, in the words of Swen Nielsen, Provo police chief, students who feel they have the right-of-way should never assume the approaching vehicle will stop. It’s a lot better to be cautious and be sure.
State law requires that a motorist must stop when the red lights of a bus are flashing, whether the car is approaching the bus from front or rear. The key word is “stop” regardless of whether the motorist can see anyone loading or unloading.
Bicycle traffic has increased substantially with the start of school. Bike riders should move with the traffic on the right side of the road and obey all regulations. Their vehicles should be in good condition and equipped with lights for night riding.
Some bike riders seem to feel they are exempt from observing traffic lights or stop signs. This is a serious mistake and could lead to ticketing or accident. Riding on the wrong side of the road, even at night, is another breach observed quite frequently among bike riders.
A word of caution to motorists seem in order concerning school zones. The school zone speed limit is 20 miles per hour – and for a good reason. In Provo, the police department plans to use radar to monitor speeds in the school zones.
It is hoped that all concerned – motorists, bike riders, pedestrians, bus drivers, and anyone else involved in moving students to and from school – will exercise extra caution now that schools are in operation.
This special effort is a small price to pay for safety and the avoidance of tragedy.