MPD offers back-to-school safety tips as traffic safety patrols increase

MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) – As children prepare to go back to school and the roads get a little busier as they ride buses, bikes, motorcycles or walk to school, the Madison Police Department and Dane County Sheriff’s Office announced extra traffic safety patrols on Wednesday and asked drivers to keep some tips in mind.

Authorities will place a focus on enforcing laws on speed limits, alcohol consumption, seat belts and bicycle/pedestrian obligations.

The police point out a few things to drivers:

• Bicycles are considered vehicles under Wisconsin state law, meaning they have the same rights on the road as cars and are subject to the same laws.
• When overtaking bicycles, drivers should keep a distance of at least one meter, even more at higher speeds, and change lanes to overtake if possible.
• When turning left, drivers should watch out for bicycles in the opposite lane. The most common cause of bicycle accidents is drivers turning in front of an oncoming bicycle.
• Motorists should double-check sidewalks and marked and unmarked crosswalks for pedestrians and bicyclists who have begun crossing.
• Drivers should always look for people and bicycles on their right before leaving an intersection and look at the left and right sidewalks on one-way streets.
• Pedestrians should not suddenly walk into the path of an approaching car that may not have enough time to yield the right of way.

The additional enforcement measures are funded by a Wisconsin Department of Transportation Traffic Overtime Grant. The additional patrols are intended to both improve public safety and prevent unnecessary tragedies, officials said.

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