Mishawaka police remind drivers of precautions as students return to school

MISHAWAKA, Ind. (WNDU) - As students head back to school, the Mishawaka Police Department is reminding everyone to “cool their engines.”

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, kids are twice as likely to be injured or killed than car passengers. That’s why the Mishawaka Police Department wants to remind drivers to be alert and watch for school zones.

“Drivers should know when they’re getting to school zones,” says Mishawaka Police Assistant Chief Craig Nowacki. “Look for those big, yellow flashing lights, obey what the speed limit is at that time. It reduces 10 miles per hour when you are in those school zones. Watch what you’re doing when you’re driving, don’t have distracted driving — don’t be on your cell phone, don’t be texting. If you’ve got to send any kind of message on your phone, pull over and do that.”

Other tips include always stopping for school or city buses loading or unloading children, watching for school crossing guards and obeying their signals.

“You have to keep an eye out for those students,” Asst. Chief Nowacki says. “Sometimes, the students aren’t thinking, maybe they are thinking of their day ahead and what they got to do in school, so they might step out at the wrong place. They’re supposed to be at the crosswalks and intersections. So, in those school zones, we need to give a special caution to that speed limit and looking around and seeing what’s around us as we’re driving.”

Emphasizing it only takes one second to change someone’s life.

“Speed and distracted driving are two of the biggest factors that drivers need to be cognizant of when they are commuting in and out of school zones,” Asst. Chief Nowacki adds.

You’re encouraged to give yourself extra time to get to work when you’re driving through school zones.

These tips also serve as a reminder in South Bend, too, as school starts Thursday.

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