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As most schools in the Long Beach Unified School District (LBUSD) begin tomorrow, Wednesday, August 31, the Long Beach Police Department (LBPD) would like to remind motorists to drive carefully.
With a dramatic increase in pedestrian traffic surrounding the schools, commuters are urged to follow the rules of the road in an important effort to prevent avoidable accidents.
Courtesy of the LBPD, drivers are reminded to adhere to the following:
- Yield the right of way to pedestrians in marked or unmarked crosswalks
- Not overtake and pass a vehicle stopped ahead of you when it has stopped for a pedestrian
- Yield the right of way to pedestrians on sidewalks
- Obey posted speed limits
- Never drive while distracted – (examples: using a cell phone, reading, applying make-up, etc.)
- Stop and remain stopped for school buses with “flashing red lights;” opposing traffic must also stop unless a painted or raised divider separates the roadway
- Watch and obey Crossing Guards, as they are there to protect children.
Pedestrians are also reminded to yield to vehicles if they’re outside of a crosswalk and to refrain from crossing between intersections controlled by traffic signals, which would constitute jaywalking, according to the release.
Parents are reminded to refrain from double parking and interrupting the flow of traffic, to obey all parking signs and curb markings, to follow school drop-off procedures and teach their children to always use a crosswalk when crossing the street.
The LBPD is committed to motorist and pedestrian safety and traffic laws will be strictly enforced at and around our schools! For further information, please contact the department’s Traffic Section at 562.570.7209.