NORWICH – As families prepare for the start of the school year on Sept. 3, 2014, the Norwich Police Department urges parents to teach their children safety tips.“Very soon, thousands of school-aged students will be walking in the vicinity of many of the school buildings in Norwich,” said Norwich Police Chief Joseph Angelino.

According to Angelino, students tend to be at a greater risk during the back-to-school period because they may be thinking about seeing their friends or worried about new teachers rather than watching for the traffic around them. For some, it will be the child’s first journey to school.

Said Angelino, “If your child is planning to walk to school, now is the time to take a supervised practice walk to the school.”

The NPD chief offered basic, universal tips for students and all pedestrians in general.

Look both ways before crossing any street.

Watch for turning cars and trucks.