Children all over the U.S. and right here on the Central Coast laced up their shoes and walked to school Wednesday.
It’s National Walk to School Day, a nationwide event aimed to get students and their families outside to help reduce traffic congestion and air pollution, bring awareness to traffic safety, provide support for infrastructure improvements, and boost neighborhood connections, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Local CHP officers were at Alice Shaw Elementary in Santa Maria to make sure children made it to school safely while helping crossing guards and reminding drivers to keep an eye out for students.
CHP wants pedestrians and bicyclists to remember the following safety tips:
– Before crossing the street, look left-right-left and continue scanning as you cross
– Use crosswalks whenever they are available, and make eye contact with drivers
– Make sure drivers see you before stepping out. Use a sidewalk whenever possible, and if there isn’t a sidewalk, walk facing traffic
– Keep your eyes up and off the phones
National Walk to School Day began in 1997.
