VIGO COUNTY, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) – Over the last two months drivers have been able to breeze through school zones.
Now that school is back in session in Vigo County, law enforcement and school corporation officials want drivers to obey the 20 miles per hour speed limit in school zones.
“A lot of people don’t know when school starts. So it’s a shock to them the first day back to school when they see me out there in the morning with a stop sign,” explained Education Assistant and crossing guard at Ouabache Elementary School Linda Boyer. “And I’ve had a few that had to slam on their brakes this morning.”
Each school has a designated crossing guard and Terre Haute Police Department patrolman to make sure drivers yield to crossing students and staff.
“We assist with the school crossing guards as much as we can,” said Officer Jesse Chambers. “But the main thing is just officer presence out here so people see us and keep the speeds low.”
Patrolmen use hand held speed detection devices to accurately track traffic in school zones, and anyone caught speeding will face the consequences.
“It’s a B infraction. So it’s not deferrable so you have to pay the full amount on the ticket,” said Chambers. “There are reports associated with that, and then it is reported to the state and to your insurance company.”
Every school zone is 20 miles per hour in the mornings and afternoons while students and staff cross the streets.
When students are in class between during late morning and early afternoon, the zone is 30 miles per hour.
Officials encourage drivers to be vigilante at all times as they drive through school zones and watch out for school buses as they make their way around the area.
Passing a school bus while the stop arms are down is a misdemeanor and drivers can be arrested.
“The two seconds they’re going to gain flying by this school is not worth hitting a child,” said Boyer.
