With students returning to school after Labor Day, Eugene officials are urging motorists to use extra caution, especially near school zones and residential areas. Increased foot traffic and school bus activity are expected, and drivers are reminded to stay alert for the safety of children, as reported by the City of Eugene.
The start of the school year is staggered, with Bethel School District welcoming back students in grades K-9 on Tuesday, and Willamette High School resuming on Wednesday. Eugene School District 4J sees kindergarteners, sixth graders, and ninth graders starting on Wednesday, with the rest of the student body joining them on Thursday. Amidst all this, the Eugene Police Traffic Safety Unit and Public Works Transportation Team have reminded everyone to "use extra caution, especially near schools," as stated by the City of Eugene.
Significant increases in both pedestrian and vehicular traffic near educational institutions warrant a shift in the daily commute. Practical advice includes allowing more time for travel, watching vigilantly for children on the sidewalks, and obeying the directions of traffic patrol members, which, as noted by the official communication, is a legal requirement. There's also a stress on the importance of stopping for school buses when their red lights flash, a rule that applies universally, regardless of road positioning.
Additionally, a safe commute goes beyond driving. The safety authorities recommend planning routes that skirt high-traffic streets for walking, biking, or skating to school. For those biking, "always bike in the same direction as traffic and ride in the bike lane or as far to the right as is safe," while skateboarders should stick to paths and sidewalks, helmets firmly in place for anyone under 16. A particularly salient piece of advice: when riding the bus, make it a habit to always cross the street in front of it, never behind.
