A message from the District Manager Scott Hooper…

As Classes Resume, Watch Out for Students Many schools resumed classes either last week or this week, and I want to take this opportunity to remind all our employees who operate motor vehicles to watch out for children — especially those who are distracted. I urge you as a driver, to take extra precautions to avoid accidents by staying alert and driving defensively. Children can be unpredictable and don’t always look both ways before crossing streets. We can prepare for the back-to-school driving season by following a few simple safety tips: • Slow Down. The speed limit in school zones is 20 mph, so be sure to cover the brake pedal, while scanning the road for kids when entering a marked school zone. • Yield to School Buses. Exercise caution when approaching a school bus or driving near bus stops. NEVER pass a school bus from either direction while its lights are flashing, and children are entering or exiting the bus. Drivers must remain stopped until the bus begins to move. • Provide plenty of distance from bicyclists, especially young or novice riders. • Never talk on your phone or send text messages while driving. • Avoid handing mail directly to children from a delivery vehicle. If children approach, get out of the vehicle and ask them to move away. Double-check around the entire vehicle before proceeding. • Never back up to redeliver a missed box. Get out of the vehicle and walk back, if you can do so safely. • Adjust your mirrors to be able to see around your vehicle before you leave your office. Thank you for your continued service to our customers, who trust us to deliver the mail safely, efficiently, and reliably. Remember that you represent the U.S. Postal Service when you get behind the wheel, so let’s protect our most precious commodity — our children.