ENID, OK - City of Enid Technical Services Department announced today they will start testing and programming the school zone beacons for Chisholm Public Schools, Pioneer-Pleasant Vale Schools, Enid Public Schools and all other school beacons within Enid city limits.
Motorists are advised to follow the posted speed limit in these areas at all times while beacons are intermittently in flash mode for these three days.
Enid school zones are 20 mph during specified times and when lights are flashing.
School zones will have flashing lights. If you speed in a school zone you'll pay a fine. Officials will turn off the school beacons during the lunch period for most Enid Public Schools. According to schools officials, students no longer leave campuses during the lunch hour and all playgrounds are fenced and supervised during breaks. Officials have determined the use of the beacons is no longer needed during this time of day.
Drivers need to slow down and pay attention when kids are present – especially before and after school.
During the school year, motorists must share the road with children who are getting on and off the bus, riding their bikes to and from school and children who are walking.
A few precautions can go a long way toward keeping children safe:
• Don't block the crosswalk when stopped at a red light or waiting to make a turn, forcing pedestrians to go around you; this could put them in the path of moving traffic.
• In a school zone when flashers are blinking, stop and yield to pedestrians crossing the crosswalk or intersection.
• Always stop for a school patrol officer or crossing guard holding up a stop sign.
• Take extra care to look out for children in school zones, near playgrounds and parks and in all residential areas.
• Don't honk or rev your engine to scare a pedestrian, even if you have the right of way.
• Never pass a vehicle stopped for pedestrians.
• Always use extreme caution to avoid striking pedestrians wherever they may be, no matter who has the right of way.
Some schools have specific drop-off procedures for the school year. Make sure you know them for the safety of all kids.
The following apply to all school zones:
• Don't double park. It blocks visibility for other children and vehicles.
• Don't load or unload children across the street from the school.
• Carpool to reduce the number of vehicles at the school.
If you're driving behind a bus, allow a greater following distance than if you were driving behind a car. It will give you more time to stop once the bus’s lights start flashing. It is illegal in all 50 states to pass a school bus that is stopped to load or unload children.
• Never pass a bus from behind – or from either direction if you're on an undivided road – if it is stopped to load or unload children.
• If the yellow or red lights are flashing and the stop arm is extended ALL traffic must stop.
• The area 10 feet around a school bus is the most dangerous for children. Stop far enough back to allow them space to safely enter and exit the bus.
• Be alert. Children often are unpredictable and they tend to ignore hazards and take risks.
As a reminder, speeding in a school zone is a $215.00 fine and overtaking a stopped school bus is a $565.00 fine.
