National Walk and Roll to School Day Celebrates Benefits of Exercise, Promotes Safe Routes to School

Posted on

Huntington Park, CA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 4, 2023

E. Soberanis, esoberanis@hppolice.org (323)854-6614

 

National Walk and Roll to School Day Celebrates

Benefits of Exercise, Promotes Safe Routes to School

Huntington Park, California – The Huntington Park Police Department encourages parents and students to join their classmates and walk, bike, or roll to class Oct. 4, 2023.

“Walk and Roll to School Day” is celebrated annually to highlight the benefits of exercise and practice pedestrian and road safety with other students, families, and caregivers.
The Huntington Park Police Department offers tips for students who walk, bike, or roll to school:
• Plan your route on roads with sidewalks or paths away from traffic. If there are no sidewalks, walk or ride as far from cars as possible, facing traffic.
• Use crosswalks, preferably at stop signs or signals. If there are unmarked crosswalks, cross at corners on streets with fewer lanes and lower speed limits.
• Always look left-right-left before crossing the street. Continue to scan for traffic as you cross the street.
• Watch for cars entering/leaving driveways or parking spaces.
• Always wear a helmet when riding or rolling.
• Be aware of your surroundings. Keep earbuds or headphone volume low enough so you can still hear around you.
Drivers should be extra careful and anticipate more foot and bike traffic the morning of Oct. 4, as well as be prepared to stop for school buses and children crossing the street. Drivers should always watch their speed and slow down in school zones.
Schools are encouraged to register at walkbiketoschool.org as a way of tracking participation and showing support for active, healthy, and safe transportation.
Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

National Teen Driver Safety Week: Parents Are Key to Keeping Teens Safe Behind the Wheel

Posted on

Huntington Park, CA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 13, 2023
LT. E. Soberanis, esoberanis@hppolice.org (323)854-6614

National Teen Driver Safety Week:
Parents Are Key to Keeping Teens Safe Behind the Wheel

Huntington Park, California – In recognition of National Teen Driver Safety Week (October 15-21), The Huntington Park Police Department encourages teens and their parents to talk about the importance of always following the rules of the road and driving responsibly.

Car crashes remain the leading cause of death for teens (15-18 years old) in the United States. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2021, an estimated 94,201 teen passengers were injured in car crashes and an estimated 170,083 people were injured in crashes involving a teen driver, accounting for almost 7% of all roadway injuries that year.

The Huntington Park Police Department offers the following tips to parents and guardians for starting conversations about safe driving with teens:

• Provisional Driver’s License: Learn about California’s provisional licensing law, which places restrictions on passengers and driving at night during the first year they have a license.
• Lead by example: Have driving sessions with your teen. Tell, but also show your teen how to drive safely.
• Set ground rules: Be firm on rules such as no phone use, eliminating distractions by friends, always following the speed limit, and always buckling up.
• Sober driving: Emphasize the importance of never driving under the influence or riding with someone who has been drinking.

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