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Back to School Safety With the new school year just beginning, the Midland Police Department Traffic Safety Team wants to share back-to-school safety tips with parents, students and motorists. As the school year begins, the Midland Police Department Traffic Safety Team will be patrolling school zones throughout the city. Please think of safety first for a safe and successful school year. Tips for Parents Help your children learn and practice the safety rules for walking, bicycling or riding in a passenger car, school bus or transit bus. Supervise young children as they are walking or biking to school or as they wait at the school bus stop. Be a good role model, especially when you are with your kids. Always buckle up in the car, always wear a helmet when biking, and always follow pedestrian safety rules. Tips for Students Always buckle up when you’re riding in a car. Always ride in the back seat. It’s the safest place for young people. Always wear a helmet and follow traffic safety rules when riding your bike. If you ride a school bus, learn and practice the safety rules for waiting at the bus stop, getting on and off the bus, and riding the bus. If you walk to school, learn and practice the safety rules for pedestrians. Always cross at crosswalks and obey all traffic signs, stop lights and safety patrol instructions. Be a good role model for your younger brothers and sisters and friends, and help them learn and practice the safety rules. Tips for Motorists If red lights are flashing on a school bus, stop! Red lights indicate that children are getting on or off the bus and may be crossing the street. The extended stop signal arm on the bus alerts traffic to stop when children are getting on or off the bus. Motorists must stop their vehicles and wait until the red lights stop flashing, the extended stop sign is withdrawn, and the bus begins moving before they can start driving again. If yellow lights are flashing on a school bus, the bus is preparing to stop to load or unload children. Motorists should slow down and prepare to stop their vehicle. Always stop for a school crossing guard in the roadway. Failure to do so can result in a misdemeanor violation. Slow down and obey all traffic laws and speed limits. Always stop for a school bus that has stopped to load or unload passengers. Red flashing lights and extended stop arm tell you the school bus is stopped to load or unload children. State law requires you to stop. Failure to do so can result in the issuance of a civil infraction citation. Be alert. Watch for children walking in the street, especially where there are no sidewalks. Watch for children playing and gathering near bus stops. Watch for children arriving late for the bus, who may dart into the street without looking for traffic. When backing out of a driveway or leaving a garage, watch for children walking or biking to school. ---PAGE BREAK--- When driving in neighborhoods or school zones, watch for young people who may be in a hurry to get to school and may not be thinking about getting there safely. Fines may be doubled for those issued a citation in a school zone. For more information about back-to-school safety tips or the police department’s Traffic Safety Team, call [PHONE REDACTED].