By: Najla Alexander
Morris County Officials announced as summer draws to a close and the Labor Day holiday weekend approaches, the Morris County Sheriff's Office wants to remind the public that school districts are open or are opening and has provided several safe driving tips for residents.
"School safety is of the utmost importance at the Morris County Sheriff's Office. The new back-to-school period lasts a few weeks. Some Morris County school districts have already started their students back to school," said Sheriff James M. Gannon.
"Other districts will not begin until after Labor Day. The public should be aware to watch out for children's safety and have patience on the roadways during this time. Students walk to school or the bus stop, they ride bikes, sometimes wearing headphones. We must be cautious and protect them from any accidents."
Driving Safety Tips:
• Obey school zone speed limits
• Never pass a bus loading or unloading children
• The area 10 feet around a school bus is the most dangerous for children; stop far enough back to allow them to enter and exit the bus safely
• Always stop for a school patrol officer or crossing guard holding up a stop sign
• Head up, phone down, while driving
• Allow extra driving time for buses and parental school traffic
"The Morris County Sheriff's Office assists municipalities with traffic and school safety. One such program is the Responsible School Violence Prevention, Preparation, Protection (RSVP-3), which allows students, teachers, or anyone with a concern to anonymously report threats to school safety and behavior," said Sheriff Gannon.
