BATON ROUGE, La. - As students prepare to start a new school year, the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development would like to remind motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians to be safe and pay extra attention when traveling on the roadways.
The start of the school year means increased commute times, and that school zone speed limits will be in effect at posted times. Drivers are encouraged to allow for additional commute time, and obey speed limits and school zone signs to ensure the safety of students and the traveling public.
To assist with a safe commute, DOTD has the following resources in place.
• MyDOTD: Motorists can receive information on local projects, lane and road closures, and other DOTD activity by signing up for MyDOTD at www.dotd.la.gov.
• 511 Traveler Information: Travelers can also find information regarding road closures and traffic by visiting www.511la.org or by dialing 511 from their telephone and saying the route or region about which they are seeking information. Out-of-state travelers can access the system by calling 1-888-ROAD-511 (1-888-762-3511).
• Twitter: DOTD has several localized twitter accounts that provide up-to-date travel information. You can sign up to get the latest travel information on road conditions, traffic and ferries via Twitter here: http://bit.ly/2rQGlV9
Additionally, be sure to follow DOTD on our social media pages beginning Monday, July 31, until Friday, August 31, as we offer back to school safety tips.
DOTD urges motorists to adhere to the following school zone safety tips:
• Obey all speed limit signs in and around school zones.
• Watch for school buses, and stop for them when their red lights are flashing.
• Be on the lookout for children walking or riding bicycles.
• Don’t stop on crosswalks.
• Obey crossing guards on crosswalks.
• Don’t be distracted by cellphones or other electronic devices.
• Follow the school’s traffic pattern for dropping off and picking up children.
For more information about DOTD’s safety-related initiatives, visit www.dotd.la.gov and www.destinationzerodeaths.com.
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