Santa Maria-Bonita School District Prioritizing Safety On First Day Of School

SANTA MARIA, Calif. (KEYT) - Schools in Santa Maria welcomed students to campus for the first day back from summer break today.

The crossing guards are out, school buses are running, and early-morning pedestrian traffic will once gain be part of daily life.

School officials join the California Highway Patrol in reminding drivers that now is the time to take those extra steps to enhance safety.

Streets surrounding campuses tend to clog between 7:30 and 8:30 in the morning and from 2:30 to 3:30 in the afternoon, as many Santa Maria families walk their kids to and from school.

There are a number of families who do walk to school," says Samantha Scroggon, public information officer for Santa Maria-Bonita School District. "There are a number of students who walk to school by themselves. And so we hope that the whole community will kind of come together and keep an eye out on our kids. Let's just all be parents and grandparents and really look out for the for the kids in our community and make sure that they get there to school safely."

Officials remind drivers to leave the house a little earlier, take it slow, and keep your peripheral awareness engaged.

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