The urgency of school zone safety was thrust into the spotlight as the Orange County Sheriff's Office reported a staggering number of traffic stops during the first week of the new school year. Approaching a total of 700, these stops resulted in approximately 250 drivers being slapped with speeding citations, as WFTV reported.
Concerned parents have vocalized their alarm and desire for more stringent measures to ensure the safety of their children. Justin Battle, one Orange County dad, remarked in a MyNews 13 report, "It is alarming that a lot of people are not following the law around schools, around where children are." Echoing this sentiment, Kaitlin Page, a local mother, calls for an increase in visible reminders, such as flashing lights and additional signage near Hillcrest Elementary, to drive home the reality that "kids are here."
Kaitlin Page told MyNews 13, "Sometimes people aren’t paying attention, and he will blow his whistle multiple times, so we feel very safe with him guiding us through the crosswalk." It is clear that the commitment to safeguarding our young scholars is shared by many, yet the responsibility primarily rests on those behind the wheel.
