OPD holds event to teach kindergartners traffic safety

OMAHA, Neb. (KMTV) — It's never too early for kids to start learning how to be safe when crossing the street and watching out for cars...especially when those kids are about to start school. "Safety is important but it's kind of a fun thing to do to get ready for kindergarten," said parent, Mura O'Neill-Rohe.

As these kindergarteners got off the school bus this morning, they had some special help. From officers with the Omaha Police Department. The officers were there to teach the kids an important lesson, how to be safe when crossing the street at school. "We want to teach them not to be so afraid when you start school and this is helping them learn all the safety information that they will need when they are starting school," said Officer Sonia Elkins with the Omaha Police Department.

For over 60 years OPD has helped teach kids starting school the basics of traffic safety. Some of those basics are the meaning of the colors of the traffic lights. And how to look both ways to check for cars when crossing the street. "We have a couple safety patrollers out there so when the kids are at school and they have to use safety patrol they know that they need to listen to the safety patrollers," said Elkins.

And parents say learning in this environment is a great way to kick off the start of the school year. "Now that he's gonna be in kindergarten he needs to learn how to be safe," said parent, Patty Williams.

But the kids walk away with more than just safety knowledge. "We want them to be independent because starting school they're not gonna have their moms and dads there with them," said Elkins.

OPD will hold two more training sessions before the school year stars. They will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on August 1st and 2nd at Westroads Mall.

The training is free and open to all children entering kindergarten for the 2019 school year, or any child that would need a refresher on traffic safety.