Numerous traffic accidents were reported before 9 a.m. around the schools Tuesday, the first day students returned to class, according to Lieutenant Dan Toth.
Although no serious injuries were reported, the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office is stepping up school zone traffic safety enforcement beginning this week in and around Lake Orion.
The Sheriff’s office first wants to raise awareness about school zone safety laws and changing fall weather conditions which will continue into winter.
School Bus Stop Laws & Safety Tips
? School buses use yellow flashing lights to alert motorists that they are preparing
to stop. Red flashing lights and an extended stop sign arm signals to motorists that the bus is stopped and children are getting on or off the bus.
? Never pass a school bus on the right. It is illegal and could have tragic consequences. A person found responsible for violating this civil infraction may be fined up to $500 and may be ordered to perform up to 100 hours of community service at a school.
? All 50 states have a law making it illegal to pass a school bus that is stopped to load or unload children.
? All 50 states require that traffic in both directions stop on undivided roadways when students are entering or exiting a school bus. In Michigan, a divided highway means divided by a physical barrier such as a raised median or guard rail. You must stop for school buses on five lane highways with only a turn lane separating traffic.
? Be alert. Children are unpredictable. Children walking to or from their bus are usually very comfortable with their surroundings. This makes them more likely to take risks, ignore hazards or fail to look both ways when crossing the street.
? The area 10 feet around a school bus is where children are in the most danger of
being hit. Stop your car far enough from the bus to allow children the necessary
space to safely enter and exit the bus.
Distracted driving is any activity that could divert a person’s attention away from the primary task of driving. All distractions endanger driver, passenger, and bystander safety. While driving do you text message, use your cell phone, eat ? drink, or read?
? Drivers who use hand-held devices are four times more likely to get into crashes serious enough to injure themselves.
? Text messaging creates a crash risk 23 times worse than driving while not distracted.
? Sending or receiving a text takes a driver’s eyes from the road for an average of 4.6 seconds, the equivalent-at 55 mph-of driving the length of an entire football field, blind.
? Parents who use cell phones while driving are endangering their children and others. But just as important, it teaches young people that this behavior is okay when is fact it may be illegal and harmful to their health and welfare.
? Eleven percent of all drivers under the age of 20 involved in fatal crashes were reported as distracted at the time of the crash. This age group has the largest proportion of drivers who were distracted.
? Forty percent of all American teens say they have been in a car when the driver used a cell phone in a way that put people in danger.
? A person found guilty by the court of distracting driving or using a mobile devise while driving is responsible for a civil infraction with a fine up to $200.