New
Orleans Health Department Reminds Residents of Reactivated School Zones
NEW ORLEANS — This month, the City of
New Orleans' Health Department (NOHD) reminds residents that school zones will be reactivated in August
2018 ahead of students returning to school. Drivers are encouraged to
drive at or below the speed limit, stay alert and put away phones while driving.
School zones are a safety focus for the city. Drivers
can expect to see enforcement of 20 MPH school zone speed
limits, freshly painted crosswalks for students and an increasing number of
NOPD-trained community crossing guards. These improvements, and more to come,
are coordinated by the New Orleans Health Department’s Safe Routes to Schools
program.
Safe Routes is a national program that promotes safe travel for students through techniques of education,
encouragement, engineering, enforcement and evaluation. The ultimate
goals of the program are: improving travel safety; encouraging the healthy
habits of walking and biking to school; and reducing air pollution and traffic
congestion. The New Orleans Safe Routes program is accepting new schools to the
program for the 2018-2019 school year to assess their school zones, make plans to
improve safety, and coordinate City departments to address hazards.
Everyone is encouraged to do their part to ensure a safe, healthy and
successful school year.
Back to School Tips from NOHD:
-
Driving in School Zones –
Obey all posted signs in school zones including: 20 MPH speed limits, no cell
phone use, and stopping for children crossing the street. The New Orleans
Police Department (NOPD) will be conducting traffic enforcement in school
zones across the city.
- Riding to school –
Parents dropping off their children at school should familiarize themselves
with their school’s arrival and dismissal policies. Children should exit
vehicles at the curbside, away from traffic. When arriving or leaving the
school campus, drivers should watch for other children.
- Walking to school –
Consider whether or not your child is ready to walk to school as a healthy way
to start the day. Help plan their route to school and walk with your child the
first few times. You may also want to find another child in the neighborhood
with whom your child can walk to school. Be sure to review traffic safety rules
with them and remind them not to talk to strangers.
- Biking to school – If your child bikes to school, help them plan their route and
remind them of the rules of the road. Bike riders should always wear a helmet
and bike in the same direction as traffic, riding as straight and predictably
as possible.
- Riding the school bus – Wait until the bus comes to a complete stop before approaching
it from the curb. Wear a seat belt on the bus if it is equipped with one. Do
not move around on the bus, and keep heads and arms inside of the bus while
riding. Wait until the bus comes to a complete stop before getting up to exit
and then check both ways before exiting the bus.
- Preparing for the school day –
Children should eat a healthy breakfast in order to concentrate at school and
may need help packing their backpacks. A backpack should never weigh more than
10 to 20 percent of a child’s body weight.
Learn more about the NOHD programs
around travel safety at: www.nola.gov/health/bicycle-and-pedestrian-safety
About the New Orleans Health
Department
The mission of the nationally accredited New Orleans Health Department
(NOHD) is to protect, promote and improve the health of all where we live,
learn, work and play. NOHD is committed to building a healthy New Orleans
through equitable social and environmental conditions and through policies,
programs and partnerships that promote health. Learn more at www.nola.gov/health.
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