DUNKIRK — With Dunkirk Elementary schools reopening Monday, Dunkirk Police Chief David Ortolano is urging drivers to use extra safety measures with children walking to or from schools.
“As our Elementary Schools start to re-open on Monday, Sept. 26, the City of Dunkirk Police Department is reminding everyone to pay close attention to children as they walk to and from school and to obey the laws regarding speed in school zones, walking in the roadway, riding bicycles and yielding the right of way to stopped school buses,” the Chief said in a statement.
The speed limit in school zones is 15 M.P.H. for all School areas except 20 M.P.H. on Route 60 60 at School 3 and 25 M.P.H. on Route 5 at School 7 from 7 A.M. until 3:30 P.M. any day that school is in session.
The Police Department will have patrol officers checking the school zone areas for violations of the speed limit. Our priority in enforcing this law is for the safety of the children.
“As always voluntary compliance is very helpful, but there will be strict enforcement and traffic summonses will be issued for the safety of the children. The few seconds it takes to slow down will not disrupt anyone’s day. Enforcement will start in the Elementary School Zones on Monday as these building open up,” Ortolano said.
“We want everyone to be aware and pay close attention to children who are walking to and from school, especially at intersections and crosswalks. A reminder to all motorists to please pay attention to and follow all directions of the school crossing guards and police officers who are at the intersections directing the children safely across the streets. Failure to stop as directed can result in the arrest of the vehicle operator. Please plan a little extra time to get to your destination while School is in session,” the Chief said.
He cautioned that motorists must stop for school buses that have their red lights flashing. All vehicles on the highway operating in any direction on single lane or multiple lane highways must stop before their vehicle reaches the school bus when the bus has it’s red flashing lights in operation. The operators of vehicles cannot proceed past any such bus until the lights stop flashing or they are signaled by the bus driver or a police officer to safely proceed. Violations of this law will be strictly dealt with and the punishment can range from heavy fines to jail time or a combination of both, he said.
He urged parents to talk with their children about the dangers of them talking with or getting into a vehicle with any strangers or entering a house of a stranger. If approached by any stranger, parents should teach their children to run away, scream, yell and find a teacher, police officer, crossing guard or an adult they know and tell them what happened.
When the Middle School re-opens parents who drop their children off at the Middle School on Eagle Street are to drop off only on the West side (the same side as the School) as dropping off on the East side will put the children in danger crossing the road in front of traffic and trying to make a left turn into the loop causes traffic back up and safety issues as well. There is signage in place that prohibits the left turn into the bus loop.
“We are also issuing a reminder to everyone about walking in the roadway. This is very dangerous and if traffic is obstructed it is a violation of the New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law and also the Penal Law depending upon the situation. Anyone riding a bicycle is reminded that they must follow all the rules of the road as if they were a vehicle.
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