From the Desk of Gerardo Becerra
Crime Watch Specialist, IMPD North District
Hello North District neighbors!
When schools are in session, the risk of pedestrian incidents increases dramatically, not just inside designated school zones, but deep within our residential neighborhoods where students walk or bike from and to home.
- The Incident: School-related pedestrian incidents most frequently occur during peak morning and afternoon travel windows. The primary hazards involve drivers failing to yield to students in neighborhood crosswalks, speeding through residential areas, or illegally bypassing a school bus when its stop arm is extended to load or unload children.
- The Legal Context (Indiana Code § 35-42-2-2): Under state law, operating a motor vehicle recklessly in an active school zone or passing a stopped school bus with its red lights flashing and stop arm extended constitutes Criminal Recklessness. This offense is strictly enforced by our traffic units and carries severe legal penalties, including heavy fines and license suspension.
- Real-World Example: You are driving through a residential neighborhood feeding into a local school during the morning drop-off rush. A school bus stops ahead of you to pick up students on their neighborhood corner. An impatient driver behind the bus decides to pull around the left side, passing the extended stop arm just as a child walks out from the sidewalk to board the bus.
- Scan Neighborhood Crosswalks: Many students walk or ride bikes to school well outside of the immediate school zone. Drive defensively through residential streets, actively scan sidewalk corners, and always yield to pedestrians waiting at neighborhood crosswalks.
- Put Down the Distractions: Keep your eyes on the road and your hands off your phone. A child chasing a dropped ball or riding a bicycle can unexpectedly steer off a neighborhood curb in a fraction of a second, and a focused driver is their best safety net.
- Make Eye Contact and Stand Clear: If your children walk or bike from your neighborhood, instruct them to cross streets only at designated intersections. Teach them to always make direct eye contact with drivers before stepping off the curb to confirm the vehicle is coming to a complete stop.
Mr. G’s Final Notes
As we adapt to the new school year rhythm across Marion County, a little extra patience during our morning and afternoon commutes goes a long way. Leaving just five to ten minutes earlier completely removes the urge to rush through our neighborhood streets. Let’s keep looking out for our youngest neighbors, drive mindfully, and ensure all our local students have a safe and successful start to their school year!