Back to School Safety Awareness and Traffic Enforcement Detail NA18152ti

WHAT: Media Availability to bring awareness to Parents and the motoring public on Back to School Safety.

WHEN: Tuesday August 14, 2018 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m.

WHERE: Lankershim Elementary School 5250 Bakman Avenue North Hollywood Ca, 91601

WHO: Los Angeles Police Department, Captain Andrew Neiman, Valley Traffic Division Los Angeles Police Department, Captain Craig Valenzuela, North Hollywood Division Los Angeles School Police, Chief Steven Zipperman Department of Transportation, Captain Tom Villarreal Principal Christopher Clarke, Lankershim Elementary School, parents and students.

WHY: On August 14, 2018 the parents in the City of Los Angeles will be sending their children back to school. Over 650,000 children will utilize vehicles, bicycles, busses, or walk as a means to travel to their local school.

The leading cause of death for children age 14 and younger is vehicle accidents whether they are a passenger, riding their bike, or get struck by a vehicle while walking.

There were 1,313 fatal school transportation-related crashes from 2006 to 2015, according to statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

According to NHTSA data, 301 school-aged children were killed in traffic related crashes from 2006 to 2015. In 2010 specifically, there were 129 fatalities in school transportation-related crashes. A greater Proportion of those deaths occurred in the afternoon, between the hours of 3 p.m. and 4 p.m., then any other time of day.

In an effort to protect the students of Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Police Department along with the Los Angeles School Police will conduct a Joint Media Availability to bring awareness to the motoring public and parents dropping their children off at school.

Tips

School Bus Wait five giant steps from the road, and when the school bus arrives wait until the driver says to board. When boarding the school bus, go straight to your seat and sit facing the front and listen to the school bus driver. When exiting the bus, look out for cars. When you get off, take 5 giant steps from the school bus. Look left-right-left to make sure no cars are coming and wait for the driver to signal it’s safe to cross the street.

Walk Walk on the sidewalk, if there is no sidewalk try to walk facing traffic. Do not push or shove others when you walk. When crossing the street, look left-right-left for cars. Do not cross if a car is coming and use a cross walk if you can.

Bicycle Always wear a helmet and make sure to buckle your chin strap. Ride on bike paths or on the sidewalk. Do not ride in the street.

For more information, please contact Media Relations at (213) 486-5910 or Sergeant Stephen Egan, Valley Traffic Division (818) 644-8146.