It is back to school time in Dodge County, which means a surge of children commuting to and from school this week. In fact, more than 3,400 students from Pre-K through the twelfth grade are expected to be on the roadways beginning Thursday morning by school busses, private vehicles, bicycles or on foot.
According to the National Highway Safety Administration, in 2009 children age 15 and younger accounted for seven percent of all pedestrian fatalities. Those children also accounted for twenty five percent of all pedestrian injuries. Teenage drivers between the age of 15 and 20 accounted for thirteen percent of all accidents in Georgia. Teen drivers accounted for ten percent of all Georgia traffic fatalities and seventeen percent of all injuries on Georgia roadways.
To promote safety, the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office would like to offer these reminders which will hopefully keep everyone safe locally.
Always be alert. Expect stopped school busses picking up and dropping off children. Remember bus stop locations may change and may be in new unexpected areas. Also expect pedestrians in neighborhoods and roadways near school campuses. Drivers should scan between parked cars and other objects for signs that children who could dart into traffic.
Leave early for schools and other destinations. Drivers should consider modifying their routes to avoid school zones and traffic. Parents should only drop their kids off on the school campuses in the school’s designated areas. Kids should never be dropped off by the roadway or in neighborhoods adjoining the schools. Drivers should comply with law enforcement officers directing traffic near the schools and obey the posted speed limits.
Research shows that taking your eyes off the road for just two seconds doubles a driver’s chance of crashing. Adult drivers should limit cell phone usage in school zones. All drivers are prohibited from texting while driving. Teen drivers are prohibited from using a cell phone device while driving.
The first couple of days, especially before school, will be real hectic and congested around the schools. The Dodge County Sheriff’s Office and Eastman Police Department will have extra personnel on hand to assist the school system with getting busses and other vehicles in and out of the schools’ campuses.
