North Olmsted Police Department has confirmed increased patrols in local school zones, responding to a surge in complaints concerning speeding and disregard for pedestrian crosswalks. FOX8 reported that the department is actively enforcing the 20-mph speed limit when children are present, including when buses are engaged in the loading or unloading. Authorities have also reiterated the importance of yielding to pedestrians, highlighting that many school zones have crossing guards.
These additional actions by law enforcement come as a strategy to address the community's safety concerns. In a statement obtained by Cleveland 19, the North Olmsted Police Department emphasized the value of slowing down versus the consequences of a citation, "Trust me, choosing to add a few seconds to your trip is certainly worth it over paying the fine that comes with getting stopped."
Amidst flashing yellow lights signaling active school zones, officers remind drivers to exercise extra caution. According to the North Olmsted Police Department's social media post, which laid bare the reality of the situation, "So, we have a problem... If pedestrians are in the crosswalk, you have to yield to them... Because of the complaints, we’ll be giving all of these school zones some extra attention." The department's call to action was clear: slow down, refrain from using phones, and pay heightened attention, especially in areas with dense student foot traffic.
Authorities seek to forge a collective responsibility among drivers, citing that no one wishes to see children harmed due to road haste or distraction. The North Olmsted Police Department's Facebook post, shared by Facebook, conveys the message to drivers, "Let’s all just be cool, slow down, put our phones down, and pay a little extra attention in the school zones." With these preventative measures, the department hopes to safeguard the well-being of children, which, as they insist, "Be safe and please be careful. The kids are counting on it."
