It won’t be long before LPS students celebrate the end of the school year and the Lincoln Police Department will be conducing a traffic enforcement project focused on school zones now through through May 14.
“Officers will be increasing patrols near schools across Lincoln, targeting violations that put young pedestrians, crossing guards, and families at risk, particularly speeding in school zones, distracted driving and failure to yield to pedestrians, says LPD Public Information manager Erika Thomas.
She says officers will be present during morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up hours at high-traffic schools throughout the city. “According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, on average, more than 25,000 children are injured each year in school zone crashes nationwide,” Thomas says.
Speeding and distracted driving are two of the most common contributing factors. Drivers are urged to slow down, stay off the phone and watch for school crossing zones, even if they’re running late. Thomas says the project is funded through the Nebraska Department of Transportation Highway Safety Office and will be staffed using overtime, with no impact to regular patrol coverage.