INDIANA – School is back in session. That means more children will be walking and riding to and from school. It also means an increase in young pedestrians potentially darting across roadways or wandering in front of alleys and driveways.

The Postal Service is asking parents, caregivers, and school officials to remind children about taking extra precautions to avoid potential accidents around mailboxes and postal vehicles.

Postal employees plan on being extra careful when driving at or near schools or playgrounds but need the support of every member from the local community to help keep our children safe.

There are several precautions students can take to avoid accidents:

• Never approach a postal vehicle when a letter carrier is delivering the mail
• Wait for the mail to be delivered before retrieving it from the mailbox
• Children should never take mail directly from a letter carrier delivering mail from inside a vehicle; the carrier will deliver the mail directly to the box
• Limit use of smart phones and other portable devices when walking or bicycling in order to remain aware of the surroundings

Observing these tips will help keep children safe during the busy days of a new school year.

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