As students and staff return to schools for in-person instruction, the Newport Beach Police Department reminds everyone to keep the safety of students in mind when traveling around schools.

This includes stopping for school buses. California law requires drivers to stop when a school bus is in front of them and extends its stop sign with flashing red lights. Drivers must remain stopped as long as the red lights are on. Drivers in both directions must stop on any two-lane road without a median or two-lane road with a center turn lane.

“Please drive carefully in school zones,” Lieutenant Ryan Peters said. “Let’s help keep students safe to ensure as smooth a transition as possible back to in-person learning.”

 The Newport Beach Police Department offers the following tips for drivers, parents and students: 

• Walk on sidewalks and use marked crosswalks, preferably at stop signs or signals.

• Watch for cars entering/backing out of driveways or leaving parking spaces. 

• If you need to walk into the street to maintain social distancing, remember to look both ways for cars.

• Always look left-right-left before crossing the street. Make sure cars see you. Continue scanning for cars when entering the crosswalk.

• Do not listen to loud music or use a phone when crossing the street.

• Drivers: slowdown in school zones. Anticipate more foot and car traffic around schools for drop-off and pick-ups.

• Drivers should do their best to avoid blocking the crosswalk when making a right-hand turn.

• Parents: Follow any school guidance related to dropping off or picking up students, as well as social distancing and face covering requirements.

Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Heather Rangel, Press Information Officer
949-644-3662
hrangel@nbpd.org