Grand Rapids MI — School’s out for summer. That means more children playing, riding bikes, running through the neighborhood, and possibly playing sports on sidewalks and streets.

The Postal Service is asking moms and dads to remind children about taking extra precautions to avoid accidents around mailboxes and postal vehicles.

“Summer months bring more than heat and humidity, they also bring kids outside to play,” said District Manager, Krista Finazzo. “While this is the best time of year to be outdoors, a child can very easily ride a bike or dart into the path of a postal vehicle.”

There are several precautions children can take to avoid accidents. First, never approach a postal vehicle when a letter carrier is delivering the mail. Second, wait for the mail to be delivered before retrieving it from the mailbox. Third, children should never take mail directly from a letter carrier that is delivering mail from inside a vehicle.

“If children approach a vehicle, the letter carrier will get out and ask the children to move away,” added Finazzo.  “The carrier will deliver the mail directly to the box.”

Children should also limit the use of cell phones and other portable devices as well as pay attention to local street signs and observe the rules of the road when riding a bicycle. Observing these tips will help keep children safe during the busy days of summer.

The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.

###