Car crashes involving pedestrians seem to be on the rise in our area.

In just the last week, three students were hit walking to or from school.

These crashes serve as a reminder to us all that we need to be extremely vigilant and on the lookout for people crossing the road.

Local law enforcement wants to stress how important it's to be cautious now that school is back in session.

"School is back in session especially during those drop off and pick up hours. It's going to be busy, we're going to have a lot of kids running around. We're going to have parents crossing, we're going to have more cars. That's a really important time for you to pay attention to what's going on," says Officer Travis Warren with the Reno Police Department.

Police have some tips for drivers to follow, especially in school zones.

1. Slow down

2. Be aware

3. Avoid distractions

4. Yield to pedestrians

For those walking to and from school, it's equally important for you to be aware of your surroundings.

1. Make sure drivers can see you before entering a crosswalk

2. Always use designated crosswalks

3. Wear visible clothing, especially at night

These rules not only apply to kids. Just a few days ago, an elderly man was killed crossing Oddie Boulevard.

That's one reason the Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) is also making efforts to reduce the number of these incidents.

"The RTC is part of a regional group Vision Zero Truckee Meadows. The goal of Vision Zero Truckee Meadows is to decrease the number of Pedestrian Fatalities to zero by 2030. But we can't do that without the communities help," says RTC Public Information Officer, Lauren Ball.

Ball says you can help by reporting dangerous pedestrian areas. 

Click on the link below to report:

http://visionzerotruckeemeadows.com/report-near-misses/

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