SCHOOL KIDS GET 'VALET' SERVICE FOR SAFETY'S SAKE.

Byline: Jennifer Radcliffe Staff Writer

Fair Avenue Elementary students were stunned Thursday morning to find a line of police, news cameras and volunteers waiting to greet them when they stepped out of their parents' cars.

But it was all part of the debut of a new $500,000 program, called School Safety Valet, in which parents are instructed to drop off their children at a ``valet'' area in front of school where volunteers will escort the pupils to the front door.

``At first, I thought they were shooting a movie,'' said 11-year-old Johnny Rider.

Cesar Ramirez, 11, added: ``I thought something had happened - like a car crash.''

The school safety effort is part of a $4.5 million program being launched to encourage motor vehicle safety citywide. Other campaigns encourage drivers to keep their eyes on the road and to pull to the right when emergency vehicles are approaching.

In the School Safety Valet program, trained volunteers will escort children from the curb to the school every day.

``We must do more to help keep our kids safe,'' said City Council member Wendy Greuel, who was one of a dozen volunteers helping escort children at Fair Avenue.

Greuel said parents were grateful to have the help. Some even asked whether they could tip the volunteer valets.

``I told them they needed just to say thank you,'' she said.

Principal Rosalba Manrique said she is thrilled to have the program. Morning traffic is generally chaotic, and some children dart across busy streets.

School leaders must still figure out how to address the afternoon pickup traffic, which is complicated by the fact that some parents arrive early and park along congested streets. Parents call their children to cars, which are sometimes across the street.

``I had to stop the traffic with my hands. I know it's dangerous, but I figure, they're my kids,'' Manrique said. ``It's an accident about to happen. We're looking for trouble if we don't do something now.''

Fair Avenue is one of 45 schools, many of which have not been identified yet, that will receive the program this year under the new grant. Canoga Park Elementary is also getting the program.

About a dozen schools in the Valley, including Kittridge and San Jose elementaries, received the valet program about 18 months ago. Police said that while very few children are killed or seriously injured in traffic accidents in front of Los Angeles Unified School District campuses, the program does help to reduce accidents.

``We're proud that we have reduced traffic collisions in the area substantially because of these programs,'' said Larry Manion, a chief with the Los Angeles School Police Department.

Parents said they're impressed with how orderly Fair Avenue operated with the valet program.

``It moves the traffic great - much faster and much safer,'' said parent Wendy Colato, who has a kindergartner at the school.

Jennifer Radcliffe, [phone]

jennifer.radcliffe(at)dailynews.com

SAFETY TIPS

Police say parents and other drivers need to take extra care in the streets near schools. Here are some tips for making sure children travel safely:

--Use corners and crosswalks to get to school. Crossing between parked cars is very dangerous.

--Don't double park in the street to drop off or pick up children.

--Don't impede the flow of traffic by stopping in the middle of the street or double parking.

--Don't park in red zones.

--Don't exceed 5 mph if children are nearby.

--Always come to a complete stop at stop signs and wait a second to make sure the intersection is clear.

--Always yield the right of way to children and crossing guards.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Police Department and Los Angeles School Police Department

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Photo:

A volunteer 'valet' escorts children out of a car Thursday at Fair Avenue Elementary.

Gene Blevins/Special to the Daily News

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SAFETY TIPS (see text)