Police Stepping-Up Traffic Enforcement Efforts Around Schools

Students in Pleasanton are back to school this week and in an effort to keep kids safe while getting to and from school, Pleasanton Police are providing increased patrols and enforcement around all of the schools during drop-off and pick-up hours, Sergeant Bob Leong said. 

Leong asks that drivers pay attention and to slow down around school zones. 

"It helps your children and yourself when you obey the rules of the road," Leong said.

In a past Patch article Pleasanton Police offered the following tips for drivers around schools: 

To increase roadway safety during these periods we offer the following suggestions:

1. Give yourself plenty of time in the morning!  As traffic volumes and congestion on the roadways increase, so does the length of time it takes to travel to your destination.  Giving yourself more time, by leaving earlier, reduces stress, increases your awareness, and improves your driving.Obey the posted speed limit signs and directional signs.  This includes marked curbs.  These signs and curb markings assist in the traffic flow into and out of the schools and assist in the safety of the students who walk and bike to school. One misplaced car can disrupt the traffic flow and the safety of our students. 
2. Obey the rules of the road.  Most drivers become “lazy” with their driving habits. Instead of stopping behind the limit line, at stop signs or red lights, especially when making a right hand turn, most drivers stop well beyond the limit line. This is not only illegal but it puts bicyclists and pedestrians at risk of being hit by a car as they attempt to leave the sidewalk and cross the street.
3. Be patient! Impatience leads to aggressive driving, rude or unwarranted behavior, pedestrian and bicycle collisions, and it creates traffic gridlocks.  Remember, everyone has the same goal in mind, to get our children safely to and from school.  Also remember, the habits you exhibit in your driving and demeanor are typically passed on to your children when they start driving.
4. If you are driving your children to school, have them ready to leave the car, with all of their belongings, when you come to a stop at the school. Backups and delays are caused when children have to get their backpacks and other items from the trunk or back seat of a car.Explore other alternatives such as carpool, ride-sharing, walking, or biking to school. Over the years, the City of Pleasanton and the Pleasanton Unified School District have collaborated to develop a variety of successful traffic calming solutions. Get involved with your school traffic safety committee to assist with traffic calming programs for your schools.
5. Watch and obey the school crossing guards.  Crossing guards are provided to assist in the safe crossing of your students across the surrounding streets near each elementary school. Be on the lookout, be prepared to stop, and be prepared to follow their directions so our children can get to and from school safely.

Please call the Pleasanton Police Department at (925) 931-5100 to report any traffic safety concerns. 

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