BACK TO SCHOOL: Police ask drivers to be careful near school zones
TULSA, Okla. (KTUL) — His official title may be assistant principal, but when Ray Pinney is needed, he grabs his vest and stop sign and becomes the crossing guard.
“If we need one, yes,” laughed Pinney.
He knows they need someone outside of the front of Holmes Park Elementary in Sapulpa because by the end of the school day, things get busy.
“These are the two largest buildings in the district side by side, so that creates a lot of congestion,” said Pinney.
“People get distracted very easily,” said Sgt. Mike Sole, with the Sapulpa Police Department.
Sole said police will be watching out for those people who aren’t paying close attention to speed limit signs near schools.
He said as school kicks off around Green Country, it’s important to remember a few things:
- Stop for school buses when the stop sign is out – includes both sides of traffic.
- Stop for crossing guards.
- Slow down when driving by schools during specified hours.
- Look out for crosswalks in front of schools.
- Put your phone down when driving near the schools.
“As a department, we focus our attention on school zones. We do enforce traffic violations in our school zones very regularly,” said Sole.
“It only takes one person,” said Pinney. “We’ve had a couple of situations since the building has been open where we’ve had close calls with students and vehicles.”
Both just asking people to slow down and be patient so everyone can get home safely.
