As students go back to school this week, the Manteca Police Department has some tips for drivers – slow down and pay attention.

With Manteca Unified School District set to have students return to the classroom on Thursday, Aug. 3, the Manteca Police wants motorists to use caution when navigating school zones or anywhere else that groups of students may be present – ensuring that all students arrive to school safely.

And if it seems like they’re treating it like a life or death matter, that’s because it is.

“Please drive like it is your child, grandchild, niece or nephew walking or riding their bike to school,” Manteca Police Department Traffic Officer Dan Peters said. “Pick-up and drop-off times can be hectic, but it’s important to be patient and stay safe as children are getting to and from school.

“It is better to be slow than sorry.”

Per California law, drivers that observe a school bus with its stop sign deployed and flashing red lights must stop so that students can safety enter and exit the bus. Drivers must remain stopped while the red lights are on, and drivers in bot direction must stop on any two-lane road that does not have a median or center turn lane.

In order to comply with the law and ensure student safety the Manteca Police recommends the following:

*Slow down and follow the speed limit.

*Adhere to school policies and procedures for dropping off and picking up students.

*Whenever possible, avoid blocking the crosswalk while waiting to make a right-hand turn.

*For parents with children walking or biking to school, teach them safe walking and riding behaviors, such as looking both ways before crossing the street, using sidewalks when available, and crossing at marked crosswalks with stop signs or signals.

While Manteca Unified works closely with partner law enforcement agencies to ensure student safety to and from school, there have been incidents in recent years where students walking were struck by vehicles and injured – or worse.

In 2018, a 9-year-old girl was struck and killed walking home from August Knodt Elementary School in Weston Ranch. Just three years before that, a 6-year-old girl was struck and killed near Shasta Elementary School while walking to school.

The California Office of Traffic Safety is also encouraging parents and the public to share their thoughts about school zones through a safety survey. That survey can be accessed by visiting www.gosafelyca.org.