As school starts, authorities offer safety tips
By From staff reports
Published in News on August 29, 2016 1:46 PM
As children head back to school, state and local officials encourage motorists to be patient and exercise caution.
The N.C. Highway Patrol is reminding drivers to be careful, especially around schools, crosswalks, buses and bus stops.
The Goldsboro Police Department recommends planning ahead and leaving early, as new bus routes begin.
* When backing out of a driveway or leaving a garage, watch out for children walking or bicycling to school.
* Slow down and watch for children playing or standing near bus stops.
* Be alert, as children arriving late for a bus may dart into the street without looking for traffic.
Children should get to a bus stop five minutes early, stand six feet away from the curb, and wait until the bus stops, the door opens and the bus driver says it's safe to enter the bus.
If children need to cross the street in front of a bus, they should be 10 feet away from the front of the vehicle. Children should never walk behind a bus.
Motorists who pass a stopped school bus can face a $500 fine.