With local-area students returning to school this week or next, and with auto fatalities up more than 10% nationwide over last year, Rose White, Public Affairs Director for AAA Nebraska, reminds motorists to use extra caution in areas where children are going to and from school.
“Follow the speed limit, keeping in mind that variable speed signs, which post lower limits during certain hours when children are typically present, are very common here in Nebraska. Now in Nebraska fines for speeding are doubled in school zones. Now always come to a complete stop at intersections, checking carefully for children walking or riding bicycles. Our research shows that more than 1/3 of all drivers roll through stops signs in school zones or neighborhoods – so very dangerous practice.”
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Crashstats, 304 school-aged children nationwide died in school–transportation related crashes between 2005 and 2014. More than a third of them were pedestrians.
For more information about traffic safety, the website is Nebraska.aaa.com. Motor vehicle crash statistics can be found at crashstats.NHTSA.gov.