STAFF REPORTNorth Country This Week

CANTON — With summer coming to an end and students returning to school, St. Lawrence County motorists are being urged to use extra caution around school buses, pedestrians and bicyclists.

St. Lawrence County Sheriff’s deputies say motorists should pay particular attention in school zones, allow extra time for traffic delays caused by school buses and watch carefully for children walking or biking to school.

Drivers should yield to pedestrians at crosswalks and intersections and take extra care when passing stopped or parked vehicles.

For children walking to school, safety officials recommend using sidewalks and crosswalks whenever possible. If there is no sidewalk, pedestrians should walk facing traffic and stay as far to the left as possible.

“Children, when you get off the bus, look to the rear of the bus before you step off the bottom step. Our friends at the Pupil Transportation Safety Institute tell us that more and more motorists are passing stopped school buses on the right shoulder — where the door is,” Undersheriff Shawn McCargar said.

McCargar also recommends that children and teenagers put away cellphones, earbuds and other electronic devices while walking so they can hear approaching traffic. Bright or reflective clothing can also help children remain visible to motorists.

Children aged 10 and younger should have an adult present when crossing streets, according to the program.

School buses present another significant safety concern. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration identifies getting on and off a school bus as the most dangerous part of a child's trip to and from school.

New York law requires motorists to stop for a school bus when its red warning lights are activated, whether the motorist is approaching or following the bus.

“Yellow lights mean the bus is going to stop — so slow down,” McCargar said.

Drivers must also stop for a school bus displaying its red lights on a divided highway, according to the state Department of Transportation.

“Never pass a stopped school bus with its red lights flashing on the right or left; this means that students are getting on or off the bus. Always watch for children who cross in front of the bus when it is stopped. School buses are required to stop at railroad crossings, by law, so be prepared to stop at railroad crossings if driving behind a school bus,” he said.

After stopping, motorists should watch for children along the side of the road and proceed slowly after the bus resumes movement. The Traffic Safety Program said many school bus-related injuries and deaths occur when children cross the street after getting off the bus.

Motorists who regularly encounter school buses stopping along their route are encouraged to plan for the delays or consider an alternate route.

Officials also reminded motorists that bicycles will be more common on roads and in crosswalks as the school year begins.

New York law requires cyclists age 14 and younger to wear bicycle helmets. Cyclists should wear bright or reflective clothing and use equipment such as reflective tape, safety vests or lights to increase visibility, particularly during dawn and dusk.

Cyclists riding on the road must obey traffic laws, use appropriate hand signals and travel on the right side of the road in the same direction as other vehicles.

McCargar said it’s also important for motorists to remain distraction-free.

“Never use electronic devices while driving and be sure to actively focus on the road and your surroundings,” he said.

The St. Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office collaborates with School Threat Assessment Teams and leads the St. Lawrence County Threat Assessment Team.

New York law requires cyclists age 14 and younger to wear bicycle helmets. Cyclists should wear bright or reflective clothing and use equipment such as reflective tape, safety vests or lights to increase visibility, particularly during dawn and dusk.

Cyclists riding on the road must obey traffic laws, use appropriate hand signals and travel on the right side of the road in the same direction as other vehicles.

   McCargar said it’s important to be distraction-free. 

“Never use electronic devices while driving and be sure to actively focus on the road and your surroundings,” he said.

    The St. Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office collaborates with School Threat Assessment Teams and leads the St. Lawrence County Threat Assessment Team and would like to remind people to stay alert and report any threats they see.