School Starts Wednesday, August 14, 2024
Dear Resident,
The first day of school is Wednesday, August 14, 2024. Everyone can expect a higher volume of vehicle and pedestrian traffic during arrival and dismissal times. As the start of the new school year, the Bear Valley Police Department encourages all drivers to take some extra time in the mornings and afternoons as school begins and ends. We would like to remind residents, parents, and students, to use caution in their travels during this time and be mindful of drivers, pedestrians, bicyclists, and school buses. There are several bus stops located within Bear Valley and this is a great time to remind all drivers they are required to stop when the buses’ red lights are flashing. It is also a great idea to slow and be prepared to stop when you see the yellow flashing lights as the bus approaches a bus stop.
The Southern California Auto Club (AAA) list some helpful tips and reminders:
• Observe and obey school zone speed limits. The posted school zone speed limit is 25 MPH.
• Please follow the respective school drop-off and pick-up plans to minimize congestion.
• Pedestrian Safety: Always watch for vehicles prior to entering a crosswalk or stepping off the curb. Parents and students use designated crosswalks or intersections to get to their destination safely. Before crossing, look left, right, and left again for oncoming cars.
• School Bus Safety: If necessary, go to the bus stop with your child so he or she can follow instructions on how to properly board and exit the bus.
• Drivers: Watch for pedestrian crossings and share the road with cyclists
• Drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists should be predictable and proceed with caution to avoid collisions.
• Observe crossing guards and obey their signs and directions.
• Police officers will conduct targeted patrols in front of or near schools during student drop-off and pick-up times during the first week of school.
Most common cause of accidents include the follow:
• Speeding: Not driving at a safe speed to react to pedestrians, cyclists, and other vehicles
• Failure to stop at stop signs: Failure to come to a complete stop or allow pedestrians to safely cross at an intersection.
• Unsafe passing: driving on solid lines into oncoming traffic to avoid stopped vehicles.
• Failure to stop for pedestrians at crosswalks: Not allowing pedestrians to completely cross the street before resuming travel.
“As always, the Bear Valley Police Department supports traffic safety for our residents, students, schools, and neighborhoods. Please travel safely and allow extra travel time to reach your destination."
BVPD