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Local News

Back to School Safety

With fall classes beginning this week, drivers should be aware of the changes in their daily commute. Litchfield Chief of Police Lee Jarman says children should also be aware of traffic when going to and from school.

"They should be instructed to cross the road only at marked intersections where there's a crosswalk. One of the most dangerous situations that we're faced with is when a child will run from between cars. The drivers don't have time to recognize that there's a child there because they're hidden by the cars and then before you know it, they're out in the roadway and most times the driver doesn't have adequate time to react to that hazard. Children are unpredictable, as we know, so I would remind everybody that as you're encountering children in the school zones or anywhere, actually, during the start of the school year, pay attention to your surroundings, watch for the children on the side of the road or on the sidewalks or playing in the area... You never know when they're going to dart out in the road so be prepared to stop, know your surroundings, know where there's children present."

Chief Jarman says the most important thing parents can do when taking children to school is to have patience.

"The first couple weeks it's always new for everybody - children are going to new schools, they're going to new classes, everybody is trying to get it figured out. We just need to be patient and slow down. If your children get to school a few minutes later than they'd like to be or even a few minutes later than school starts, I'd rather see that than a child get hit because somebody is in a hurry to try and get there on time."

Chief Jarman's other back to school reminders include:

- it is illegal to pass a bus when the red lights are on and the arm with flashing red lights extends from the driver's side of the bus
- in the state of Illinois it's illegal to talk on a cell phone while driving

Chief Jarman says they will be monitering cell phone use in the school areas especially and writing citations if anyone is found driving and talking on the phone.

The speed limit in school zones in 20 MPH from 7am to 4pm when children are present. Classes in Hillsboro and Litchfield begin this week.
Thomack 8/17/15

RFD