Today we continue back to school safety week talking about pedestrians and how to help make sure students who walk to school get there safely.

Perry Police Chief Eric Vaughn says there are some simple things to teach kids that can really help make a difference.

“As a reminder, we want kids that are walking to school to make sure they’re using sidewalks if they’re available.  Especially after a bus lets out we’ll have a group of kids that likes to walk down the middle of the street, well we put sidewalks there to get you off of the street and keep you safe so we encourage the use of those.  Make sure you’re watching for vehicles when you’re crossing the street because sometimes those pedestrians are a little smaller and the drivers of the vehicles may not see them.  Also, we encourage the use of crosswalks.  Cross at the crosswalks, that’s where we’re going to see you.”

Chief Vaughn also helps clarify some confusion about which side of the street you should be traveling on.

“If you’re walking in the street you should be going against the flow of traffic so you can see vehicles coming and they can see you.  If you’re riding a bike or skateboard you should be going with the flow of traffic and with that you’re supposed to obey all the rules that you would if you were driving a car.”

Vaughn says this includes stopping at stop signs and looking both ways, as well as obeying one way streets.