‘Drive with extra caution on school zones, bus stops’

With about 14,000 public and private schools students plying the different thoroughfares in the Commonwealth, the public is reminded and is strongly urged to exercise extra caution when within schools zones, bus stops, and other similar designated pick up/drop off areas.

“We are appealing to the public to observe traffic rules: when bus lights-red and yellow colors-are flashing and when in stop, to yield. We also need for everyone to slow down upon reaching and or within school zones. And for every cross walk, we urge every motorists to slow down,” Education Commissioner Rita A. Sablan said.

CNMI traffic regulations call for a speed limit of 15 miles per hour within school zones.

“If a student or group of students is waiting at a bus stop or making their way to the designated pick up and drop off area, motorists are asked to observe the 15 miles per hour speed limit or to drive slower to avoid pedestrian accidents,” added Sablan.

Abiding by traffic rules and keeping to the speed limits in school zones have increasingly become a problem, leading PSS to issue this urgent appeal. With traffic rules being flagrantly violated, students continue to be exposed to risks of roadside accidents and similar safety mishaps.

Parents and guardians, too, play essential roles in ensuring the safety of their children when away from home.

“As our partners in the education of our children, we also ask our parents to remind their children of traffic rules and observe safety on the road when children are going to and from home to school,” Sablan said.

Along with this, parents and guardians whose children ride the PSS buses are called upon to observe the PSS bus pick-up time when sending their children to schools. For public elementary students buses roll out to pick up elementary students at 7am and for secondary students at 7:30am.

At the same time, the after-school pick up time for school buses is at 2pm for elementary students and 3pm for high school students.

This applies to all public school students on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota.

“In picking up their children, we ask parents and guardians to strictly observe designated pick up zones and to also drive slow when students are seen walking and to follow pedestrian rules,” said Sablan, underscoring the need to yield the right of way to students at all times during school days, whether students are waiting to get on school buses or when walking to and from school to home.

The school system has also been coordinating with the Department of Public Safety in ensuring that all necessary assistance is provided to the community that places the safety of all school children at its utmost priority.

Last week’s incidents when three children were hit by cars brought to light the need for motorists to exercise extra precautionary measures, said PSS. Everyone should be reminded that “there is a lot of risk” when road/pedestrian regulations are not followed. (PSS)