Back To School In Belleville; Drivers, Parents Urged To Be Extra-Safe

BELLEVILLE, NJ — Children and teens in Belleville will be returning to school this week in the wake of the Labor Day holiday. And local authorities have a stern reminder for motorists in the township: drive safely.

Back-to-class planning has already begun in the Belleville Public School District for 2024-25, with the first day for students set for Thursday, Sept. 5.

The Belleville Police Department recently issued a reminder to drivers, asking them to be “especially cautious” as students walk and bike to school.

Members of the police department have been posting signs supplied by AAA in front of schools, local businesses and other places with the message: “School’s open, drive carefully.”

“We want to plant the seed in motorists’ minds that they need to drive a little slower and be even more attentive during the morning and afternoon when our schoolchildren will be going to and coming home from school,” Police Chief Mark Minichini said.

Minichini said the police department will be closely monitoring vehicle traffic as the school year begins. Officers will also be present at each school to meet and greet students, parents and teachers.

Minichini said that parents can also play a big part in back-to-school safety. He urged local guardians to have a discussion with their children about their safety. Meanwhile, parents should review routes to and from school with their kids, and remind them to pay strict attention to the directions of crossing guards.

Mayor Michael Melham urged local residents and drivers to take the police department’s advice.

“If you’re driving in our great town in the next few weeks, whether it’s in the morning or the afternoon, please slow down, put down your cell phones, keep your eyes open and be safe,” Melham said.

Here are some other tips for pedestrians of all ages, township officials said:

• Whenever possible, walk on the sidewalk; if no sidewalk is available, walk facing traffic.
• Follow the rules of the road, obeying all traffic signs and signals.
• Cross streets at crosswalks.
• If no crosswalk is available and your view is blocked, move to where you can see oncoming traffic.
• Look left, right, and left again before crossing the street while maintaining eye contact with drivers of oncoming vehicles to ensure they see you.
• Stay alert – avoid cell phone use and wearing earbuds.
• Wear bright and/or reflective clothing and use a flashlight, especially at night.
• Watch for cars entering or exiting driveways or backing up in parking lots.
• Children younger than 10 should cross the street with an adult and or crossing guard.

Tips for motorists to help keep pedestrians safe include:

• Obey all traffic laws, especially posted speed limits in school zones.
• Always watch out for pedestrians and be extra cautious when backing up.
• Yield to pedestrians in crosswalks, making eye contact to indicate that you see them.
• Never pass vehicles stopped at crosswalks.
• Stay alert – avoid distracted driving.
• Do not drive under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.

Reminders for school bus safety include:

• Yellow flashing lights indicate the bus is preparing to stop to load or unload children. You should slow down and prepare to stop your vehicle.
• Red flashing lights and extended stop arms indicate the bus has stopped, and children are getting on or off. You must stop your car and wait until the red lights stop flashing, the extended stop-arm is withdrawn, and the bus begins moving, before you can start driving again.
• Even when lights aren’t flashing, watch for children, particularly in the morning or mid-afternoon, around school arrival and dismissal times. Be alert as you back out of a driveway or drive through a neighborhood, school zone, or bus stop.

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