BICYCLE AND TRAFFIC SAFETY
Traffic Safety around our Portola Valley Schools
Ormondale
Corte Madera
Ormondale
- Never exceed 20 mph speed limit on Shawnee Pass. Officers will be enforcing speed limits throughout the year.
- Use caution and drive more slowly when approaching Ormondale.
- Drivers and bicycles must stop at school crosswalks for all pedestrians.
- No traffic allowed down Iroquois after 7:50 am. No exceptions, as bikers and small children walking will be present after 7:50 am.
- Do not park along red curbs or on trails. This hinders visibility and creates dangerous situations.
- Do not use your cell phone when driving, especially after dropping off your child. This is extremely dangerous. Officers will be enforcing this CA state law throughout the year.
Corte Madera
- Never exceed 25 mph speed limit on Alpine Road. Officers will be enforcing speed limits.
- Drivers must stop at school crosswalks for all pedestrians.
- No parking along the south side of Alpine Road or in front of the stop signs. This hinders visibility and creates dangerous situation. Use the designated parking on the other side of Alpine Road.
- Do not use your cell phone when driving, especially after dropping off your child. This is extremely dangerous. Officers will enforcing this CA state law throughout the year.
Bicycle Safety
Did you know…that children on bicycles:
- cannot readily tell the direction a sound is coming from.
- have a narrower field of vision than adults, about 1/3 less. ·
- cannot easily judge a car's speed and distance.
- assume that if they can see a car, its driver must be able to see them.
- concentrate on only one thing at a time. This is likely not to be traffic.
- Children on bicycles should remember these four traffic safety rules:
1. STOP AND LOOK BEFORE ENTERING A STREET
Riding into the street from a driveway without stopping is the cause of half the bike fatalities of kids eight and under. Have them practice by looking left, then right, then left again.
2. STOP AT ALL STOP SIGNS AND RED LIGHTS
Often, kids break this rule when riding with friends or when they are distracted. This is another major cause of bike/car collisions involving children.
3. LEARN TO SCAN – LOOK BEHIND FOR TRAFFIC
Many kids have been taught to signal before turning, but not enough attention has been placed on looking behind them first. Explain to your child that there is nothing magical about signaling; it won't make a car stop for you.
4. WEAR A HELMET – IT’S THE LAW
Helmets save lives. Seventy-five percent of all serious bicycle injuries involve a head injury that might have been prevented, if the bicyclist was wearing a helmet. And it’s CA state law for anyone under 18!