Santa Paula officers urge drivers to slow, stay in lanes near schools

Officer Jacob Mira Montez, a school resource officer with the Santa Paula Police Department, opened with a call for better driving habits near schools and stressed one clear rule: stay in your lane. "By staying in your lane, you can help keep traffic flowing smoothly and avoid any type of traffic accidents," he said.

Montez told the crowd that busy drop-off zones, buses and pedestrians make school hours a high-risk time and warned that "a split second of distraction could be a life altering event." He advised drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians to avoid social media or other distractions while on the road.

Officer Jason Bentz, also a school resource officer assigned to Santa Paula High School, reinforced those instructions and focused on obeying posted signs and yielding to people on foot. "Signs are there for a reason, so follow all the traffic signs," Bentz said. "When you see a stop sign, make a complete stop. Those few seconds could save your life."

Both officers urged drivers to slow down in school zones and to respect crossing guards and crosswalks. The presentations stressed practical steps families and drivers can take immediately — slower speeds, full stops, yielding to pedestrians and no phone use while driving — to reduce the risk of collisions involving students.

The speakers closed by asking the community to commit to safer behavior near schools and by reminding drivers that simple, routine actions can prevent serious injuries.