SAFE Program Will Visit Area Schools

With the school year fast approaching, the Thousand Oaks branch of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department will be stepping up its Sane and Fun Education--or SAFE--program.

In its fourth year, the program is designed to teach kids, parents and teachers about safety issues involving crosswalks, pedestrians, bicycles and in-line skates.

“Our response has been terrific, not only from the kids but from parents and teachers too,” said Deputy Daniel Ambarian of the Sheriff’s Department traffic bureau, who rides in on his motorcycle for the presentations at schools.

“We speak a lot about pedestrian safety, using crosswalks, when and where to cross streets, bicycle safety, what safety equipment you need to wear and also what to do when you’re approached by a stranger,” he said.

The program will be launched at 11:15 a.m. on Sept 8. at Cypress Elementary in Newbury Park. Visits to the other 18 Conejo Valley Unified School District elementary schools are expected to take place in September and October, Ambarian said.

For more details about SAFE assemblies at other schools, parents should check with their local campuses, he added.