Sheridan PD asks residents to be alert during drop-off and pick-up times as the school year begins

The first day of school for many is just around the corner on Aug. 25. The excitement of being back at school will bring running and distracted children as many of those children will be reconnecting with friends after long periods of COVID-19 isolation and summer breaks. Amid the excitement parents will be dropping children off and picking them up before and after school. 

The Sheridan Police Department is asking parents and motorists around the schools to be vigilant during drop-off and pick-up times for children running, skating and biking to and from school. 

During an appearance on Sheridan Media’s Public Pulse,  Sheridan PD Lieutenant Tom Ringley gave listeners a few safety tips as the school year sets to begin next week. 

Ringley went on to say that many high school aged children have become new drivers while school has been out and crowded drop-off locations will be new to them. Drivers should also always stop when school buses extend their stop-arm. 

An average of 19 school-age passengers are killed in the U.S. while getting on and off the bus each year, according to School Transportation News. The most at-risk group is children age 5 to 7. Most of the deaths occur in the afternoon – 38% of the fatalities happen between 3 and 4 p.m.