Owasso Police Back to School Traffic Safety Tips
08/21/2019 – It’s that time of year again! As you make your way around town tomorrow morning and afternoon, keep in mind that it is the first day of school here in Owasso. There will be lots of kids walking – not only in the designated school zones, but also making their way through the neighborhoods.
OPD will have extra officers on duty this week focusing exclusively on traffic enforcement in school zones and general pedestrian safety in the neighborhoods. The safety of the kids in Owasso is always our #1 priority and we want to make this another safe, injury-free year as the kiddos make their way back to school.
Drivers – slow down, pay attention to your surroundings and avoid distractions like cell phones while you drive. Slow down for school zones, stop at crosswalks when children are present and be prepared for children to unexpectedly dart out from between cars parking along neighborhood streets. Watch for buses unloading and loading – obey the flashing red lights and stop indicators. Follow the directions of the crossing guards. And remember to patient – a couple of minutes added to your drive while you are obeying the traffic laws and being careful could keep a kiddo from getting hurt.
Parents – the first day of school is a great opportunity to remind your kids about safety. After you take that “look at junior on his first day of school” pic for Facebook, take a few minutes to talk to them about not walking in the street, using the sidewalks/crosswalks, looking both ways before crossing the road and general safety concerns like talking to strangers and reporting suspicious activity. If you’re dropping kiddos off at school – be patient and understand that all the other moms and dads in line are excited too and the schools are doing their best to make the process as painless as possible.
