Williamsville, N.Y. (WBEN) - School districts across Western New York are kicking off the new academic year this week, with several students heading back to the classroom as soon as Tuesday.
As students get ready to return to the classroom, local law enforcement officials and others are reminding drivers to be vigilant on the roadways in the coming days and weeks, and be aware of pedestrians and other drivers as they head back to school.
"Here we are again, sending the children back to school, and we want to make sure that these children stay safe," said Elizabeth Carey from AAA of Western and Central New York during a safety press conference last week.
Districts like Williamsville Central Schools know that safety and security is one of the top priorities as students head back to school. Community members, such as parents and guardians, entrust districts with their children to get to-and-from school for arrival and dismissal safely every day.
"The more proactive we are in ensuring that we're doing everything that we can to keep them safe on a daily basis, being very mindful when we're behind the wheel of a car, paying attention to walkers, students who are riding their bikes to school, paying attention to school buses, being prepared to stop. The more proactive we can be, and the less distracted that we can be; put the phones away, be cognizant, be observant of what's going on around you. We want to make sure that all our students, all our staff are able to get to and from school safely every single day," said Nick Filipowski, executive director of communications with the district.
A number of law enforcement agencies will be having extra patrols out on the roadways in the opening week of school to ensure the safety of students and the rest of the public. This includes New York State Police, who will be watching for anyone who tries to pass a parked bus with its stop arms extended and lights flashing.
"This time of year is dangerous," said State Trooper James O'Callaghan. "K-through-3 make up 39% of the school population, but they're 69% of the fatality collisions when people pass the school bus. Our youngest aged kids are the most at risk. When we look at fine amounts, we look at anywhere from $250-to-$1,000 fine. It's a lot of money. It's five points... 11 points, you lose your license, so you're halfway there. But don't let that be the deterrent. The deterrent is you could kill or injure a child. That should be the deterrent, and at the end of the day, we want to keep our kids safe."
In the City of Buffalo, this school year will be the first with school buses across Buffalo Public Schools to be equipped with stop arm cameras to detect illegal passing of school buses picking up or dropping off students.
"To allow citizens adequate time to adjust to these camera changes, a current grace period, which started on July 1 and will end on Sept. 30, has been implemented. During this time period, there's been informational campaigns to create public awareness. Infractions captured on the bus arm cameras will result in violation warnings, letters and regards to vehicle New York State traffic law 1174 and 1174a, respectively. Starting on Oct. 1, however, these summonses will be issued to the registered vehicle owners instead of the previous warnings received, as we begin the school year in order to better and more effectively serve our citizens and reduce dangerous infractions, which may harm our most vulnerable residents," explained Buffalo Police Chief Tommy Champion.
Champion also has some other tips for drivers now that another school year is underway in the city.
Looking both ways, operating at safe speeds, stopping completely at traffic devices, and also making sure you stop before the crosswalk. Being mindful of obstructions which may make it hard to see a child, who might be a little shorter in height," Champion noted. "Checking mirrors, obeying traffic rules, crossing guards and traffic devices should also be obeyed. Eliminating distractions, as mentioned, such as cell phones, infotainment devices, GPS devices. And also important to leave early to eliminate the need to rush and the temptation to speed in the mornings."
One of the major talking points this year for law enforcement officials is distracted driving, and the safety hazards of drivers having their eyes taken off the roadways due to cell phones and other electronic devices.
"With more buses and vehicles on the road, your time to react may decrease. This makes it even more important to put the cell phone down, and give driving your full attention," said Erie County Sheriff's Chief Tim Carney. "Young children walking and biking to school are extremely vulnerable. Parents should be speaking with their teen drivers about the threats distracted driving presents. Distracted driving has never been a bigger concern in our community as it is right now. Cell phones and GPS infotainment systems are in just about every vehicle that goes down the road. In 2023, about 10% of all the crashes the ECSO Crash Investigation Unit investigated were because of distracted driving. Nationwide, thousands of people die each year in motor vehicle accidents involving distracted drivers."
Carney adds if anyone may receive an urgent call or a text while driving, pull over and then proceed with the call or text in response.
"With all the buses and kids back on the road, we're just asking everyone to be extra vigilant until everybody gets used to the increase in traffic and the slower commute times," he said.
Amherst Police Cpt. Charles Persons is asking drivers to be vigilant with pedestrian traffic, especially around any of the schools the department serves.
"Children walking to school are often inexperienced or unaware of proper traffic safety. Parents and guardians should ensure that the children understand proper pedestrian safety. Parents should plan a safe route with their children, and practice a safe route before school starts," noted Cpt. Persons. "When possible, children under the age of 10 should be accompanied by an adult or responsible teenager while walking to school. Parents should also teach the children to cross at intersections, to always use crosswalks when available, to always look before crossing the street and wait until traffic is clear, to walk across the street and not to run, when it is proper to cross the street, how to understand a pedestrian signal head, to use sidewalks if they're available, and if a sidewalk is not available to walk against traffic. They should teach them to obey crossing guards, to walk with a friend, if possible, and to not walk while texting, using earbuds or doing anything else that's going to distract them while walking to school."
