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As students and staff return to schools, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Southwest Station Traffic Bureau reminds everyone to keep the safety of students in mind when traveling near schools.

This includes stopping for school buses. California law requires drivers to stop when a school bus is in front of them and extends its stop sign with flashing red lights. Drivers must remain stopped as long as the red lights are on. Drivers in both directions must stop on any two-lane road without a median or two-lane road with a center turn lane.

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Southwest Station Traffic Bureau offers the following tips for drivers, parents, and students:

• Walk on sidewalks and use marked crosswalks, preferably at stop signs or signals.
• Watch for cars entering/backing out of driveways or leaving parking spaces.
• Always look left-right-left before crossing or entering the street. Do not count on cars see to you. Continue scanning for cars when entering the crosswalk.
• Do not listen to loud music or use a phone when crossing the street.
• Drivers should slow down in school zones. Anticipate more foot and car traffic around schools for drop-off and pick-ups.
• Drivers and parents should be patient. The car stopped in front of you may be letting children you do not see cross the roadway.
• Drivers should do their best to avoid blocking the crosswalk especially when making a right-hand turn
• Parents should follow any school guidance related to dropping off or picking up students.

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Southwest Station Traffic Bureau will be focusing on traffic enforcement in school zones during student arrival and dismissal throughout the school year.

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