Medford Township Police Department
Public Safety Announcement - Share the Road, Fall 2015
91 Union Street, Medford, New Jersey 08055
Lt. Arthur Waterman, Bureau Commander
Lt. William Dunleavy, Bureau Commander
Emergency: 9-1-1
Police Dispatch: 609-267-8300
Policy Admin. Building: 609-654-7511
Admin. Fax: 609-654-7511
Share the Road
The Medford Township Police Department would like to remind everyone to “Share the Road”. Bicycles and pedestrians are on, and around, our roadways in increasing numbers with the warm weather and impending opening of schools. We would like drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians alike to be mindful of their surroundings and respect the rules of the road, and be courteous to each other, so we all can be safe. Education and enforcement actions will be taken around our schools by the Medford Township Police through our “S.T.R.E.E.T.” (Safety, Traffic, Response, Enforcement, Education, and Training) Initiative. The initiative is designed to provide a safer environment for our children in the areas adjacent to our schools, and some of the program highlights and goals include:
- Increased presence of marked patrol units in the areas adjacent to our schools
- Increased education and enforcement of motor vehicle laws in targeted areas adjacent to our schools, i.e.: parking, pedestrian safety, seat belt enforcement, school zone speed enforcement.
- Decrease the number of motor vehicle crashes in the areas immediately adjacent to our schools.
- Utilize Video Message Boards and social media outlets to focus the community’s awareness to the importance of a safe school environment.
School Bus Safety
For twenty three million students nationwide, the school day begins and ends with a trip on a school bus. The greatest risk is not riding the bus, but approaching or leaving the bus.
Improper passing of a school bus
39:4-128.1 (5 points) – On roadways not divided by a safety island or physical traffic installations, the driver of a vehicle approaching or overtaking a bus, which is being used solely for the transportation of students, which has stopped for the purpose of receiving or discharging any child, shall stop such vehicle no less than 25 feet from such school bus and keep such vehicle stationary until such child has entered said bus or has reached the side of the road and until the flashing red light is no longer exhibited by the bus.
Simple layman’s explanation: Any vehicle approaching a school bus with its red lights activated must come to a complete stop at least 25 feet from the bus and remain stopped until the driver of the bus disengages the red flashing light.
TIPS FOR DRIVERS
- Stop and remained stopped while a pedestrian is in a marked crosswalk.
- Stop and remained stopped for pedestrians crossing within the adjacent crosswalk into which the motorist is turning right from either a red signal, stop, or yield sign.
- Do not overtake and pass a vehicle that is stopped to permit a pedestrian to cross a roadway.
For more information, follow the link to the NJ Department of Transportation website:
Be cautious when students are entering or exiting a school bus.
Always stop for school bus flashing lights.
Follow These Tips To Keep Our Children Safe
Drivers:
When backing out of a driveway or leaving a garage, watch out for children walking or bicycling to school.
- When driving in neighborhoods with school zones, watch out for young people who may be thinking about getting to school, but may not be thinking of getting there safely.
- Slow down. Watch for children walking in the street, especially if there are no sidewalks in neighborhood.
- Slow down. Watch for children playing and congregating near bus stops.
- Be alert. Children arriving late for the bus may dart into the street without looking for traffic.
- Learn and obey the school bus laws in your state. Learn the "flashing signal light system" that school bus drivers use to alert motorists of pending actions.
- Yellow flashing lights indicate that the bus is preparing to stop to load or unload children. Motorists should slow down and prepare to stop their vehicles.
- Red flashing lights and extended stop arms indicate that the bus has stopped, and that children are getting on or off. Motorists must stop their cars and wait until the red lights stop flashing, the extended stop sign is withdrawn, and the bus begins moving before they can start driving again.
The Medford Township Police would like to remind motorists of this important safety concern involving our children. Please make sure to stop for school buses when safety lights are activated!
PEDESTRIAN SAFETY
In addition, we would like to provide some helpful information for pedestrians, drivers, and bicyclists that will keep us all informed and make everyone’s travels safe.
PEDESTRIANS:
- Always cross at corners, within marked crosswalks where available.
- Walk on the sidewalk. If there is no sidewalk available, walk as far off the roadway as possible.
- Always walk against traffic.
- Obey traffic signals, especially “Walk / Don’t Walk.”
- Supervise and teach your children about safe walking. Remember children under the age of nine often lack the judgment to make safe choices when dealing with traffic, and their size makes them difficult to see.
BICYCLE SAFETY
- Every person riding a bicycle on a roadway is granted all the rights and subject to all of the duties of a motor vehicle driver.
- Every person riding a bicycle shall ride as near to the right roadside as practicable with the flow of traffic.
- Bicycles must travel in single file, but no more than two abreast when traffic is not impeded.
- Helmets are REQUIRED for anyone under the age of 17 riding a bicycle, skateboard, or roller and inline skates.
For more information follow the link to the NJ Department of Transportation website: