Pasadena Police Urge Drivers to Slow Down as Students Head Back to School

The Pasadena Police Department is asking all drivers to make safety a top priority in school zones during August’s Back to School Safety Month, in a reminder issued Friday, Aug. 7, as summer winds down and students prepare to return to class.

The appeal lands 10 days before Pasadena Unified School District students begin the 2026-2027 school year on Monday, Aug. 17, when activity around campuses across the city picks up sharply. The department put its message in six words: “A+ Driving Starts with Slowing Down.”

“This time of year brings increased activity around schools and it’s crucial to be mindful behind the wheel,” Pasadena Police Department Lieutenant Mathew Campeau said in a department news release. “Every driver plays a role in keeping children safe by slowing down and paying close attention in and around school zones. It is all our responsibility to ensure children get to and from school safely.”

The Pasadena Police Department is urging drivers to slow down and follow the speed limit, follow each school’s own drop-off and pickup procedures, stop for school buses and watch for children rushing to catch the bus or stepping off it, and yield to people walking at every crosswalk — marked or not.

Parents whose children walk or bike to school should teach them to look both ways before crossing, use sidewalks where they exist and cross at corners when there is no marked crosswalk, the Pasadena Police Department said.

State law is unambiguous about stopped buses. Drivers behind a school bus displaying a stop sign and flashing red lights must stop so students can safely get on and off, and must stay stopped as long as the red lights are on. On a two-lane road with no median or center turn lane, traffic in both directions must stop.

Back to School Safety Month is observed statewide in August and is promoted through the California Office of Traffic Safety’s Go Safely campaign, which publishes traffic safety information at gosafelyca.org.

Pasadena Unified’s first day of instruction is Aug. 17. Most teachers report to campuses beginning Aug. 12.