Safety guidelines for Lakenheath

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Kristopher Levasseur
  • 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England --  With the school year starting, the 48th Fighter Wing Safety Office and the 48th Security Forces Squadron would like to remind Liberty members to keep safety in mind.

With increased vehicle and pedestrian traffic at the gates, following the proper safety procedures is paramount to the safety of all Liberty members.

"With everyone's assistance we can make the commute safe and ensure everyone in our community gets where they need to be on time," said Master Sgt. Jackie Cruse, 48th Security Forces Squadron Operations and Training NCO in charge.

The 48th SFS has created a list of methods to ensure smooth travel to and from the base. 

1. Allow yourself enough time to safely drive to work or school and process through the gate.

2. Carpooling is a great way to help reduce the congestion.

3. Have your base entry credentials ready to go. If you left your common access card in the reader, proceed to the Visitor Control Center at Gate 1 for a pass.

4. There are many children and vehicles passing through the same area at the same time. A large number of children and parents will walk across Lordswalk and travel through the Nathan Gate.

5. Stop for pedestrians in the crosswalk - It's the law!

In addition to driving safety, it is important for school children and parents to know what to expect.

"While students are safe in the bus on the way to and from school, the concern is walking to and from school where hazards may exist," said Dr. Ninetta Brown, 48th Mission Support Group school liaison officer. "Everyone should remember that kids walking to and from school aren't always focused on the traffic around them. Drivers must always be aware of children near the street and always stop when approaching a zebra crossing where children and pedestrians are present."

Children must be taught to:

- Cross streets safely.

- Cross at a corner, using traffic signals and crosswalks where possible.

- Make eye contact with drivers before crossing in front of them.

- Look right, left and right again when crossing, and keep looking as you cross.

- Walk; don't run, across the street.

- Walk on sidewalks or paths.

- If there is no sidewalk, walk on the right side of the street on the grass, facing oncoming traffic.

- Children should walk on direct routes with the fewest street crossings.

- Be a safe pedestrian around cars.

- Watch for cars that are turning or backing up.

- Never dart out into the street or cross between parked cars.

For more information, contact the 48th Fighter Wing Safety Office at 226-3737 or e-mail 48FW.SEG@lakenheath.af.mil.

Contributions for this article have been made by, The 48th Fighter Wing Safety Office, the 48th Security Forces Squadron and the School Liaison Office.