NMDOT News:SANTA FE – As back-to-school season approaches, the New Mexico Department of Transportation wants to remind drivers and pedestrians to take be safe in and around school zones.
Driver Safety Reminders:
- Slow down! Speed limits in school zones tend to be 5-10 miles per hour below the posted speed limit.
- Respect the crossing guard. Always stop for crossing guards holding a stop sign.
- Use extreme caution to avoid striking pedestrians, no matter who has the right of way.
- Be aware children can be unpredictable. Watch for children darting out from between parked cars.
- Yield to pedestrians walking on a crosswalk.
- Do NOT stop on a marked crosswalk or impede a pedestrian’s pathway at a marked intersection.
- Drivers must stop behind a school bus with flashing lights. Never pass a stopped school bus. The area 10 feet around a school bus is the most dangerous for children entering or exiting the bus.
Pedestrian Safety Reminders:
- Look both ways before crossing.
- Do not expect a driver to yield to you if you are crossing on an unmarked pathway.
- Wear bright colored or reflective clothing if walking at night.
- Only walk on designated sidewalks, pathways or as far from the shoulder as possible.
- Never jump into traffic or walk on the road.