SPOKANE, Wash. – Students returned to class across the Inland Northwest this week. Keeping those students safe as they walk to and from school will require that drivers observe school zones throughout the upcoming year.
Several regional police departments sent messages via social media reminding the public to slow down in designated school areas.
“The safety of our students is our top priority…Our officers will continue to patrol and enforce speed limits to ensure our students have a secure school experience,” the Cheney Police Department said via social media.
The Adams County Sheriff’s Office shared a similar message, reminding drivers that it is their legal responsibility to observe school zones and stop for school buses when they are boarding.
“When a school bus stops and its red lights are flashing, it means children are getting on or off—so make sure to stop and wait. Never pass a stopped school bus from either direction unless you’re on a divided highway,” the sheriff’s office said.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were 1,080 school-transportation-related crashes across the US between 2010 and 2019, with an average of 120 deaths per year.
