(Cuyahoga County) - As schools prepare to welcome students back from summer recess, AAA East Central, the Ohio Department of Transportation, and the Fairview Park Police Department teamed up to host a media event to remind drivers and parents to be extra cautious, as school zones become more active with students taking the bus and walking to school.
They held a press event this morning at Gilles-Sweet Elementary School in Fairview Park.
Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of unintentional injury-related deaths among school children ages 5-18.
School zones can be especially dangerous for children. Lt. Paul Sheppard of the Fairview Park Police Department explains many drivers exceed the speed limit in school zones and roll through stop signs in residential areas. He says many officers are now targeting school zones and are strictly enforcing traffic laws.
By promoting driver and pedestrian safety, and by providing valuable information for parents - AAA, ODOT, and the Fairview Park Police Department hope to put school zone safety at the front of everyone’s mind as districts begin the new academic year.
(Photos by Getty Images)
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