The Cookeville Police Department urging drivers to reduce speed as schools ramp up for the fall semester.
Administrative Sergeant Charlotte Austin said motorists often fail to recognize the change in speed limits because driving habits become second nature on familiar roadways.
“We have a lot of speeding in school zones,” Austin said. “Our traffic unit stays pretty busy conducting traffic stops in school zones for speed and sometimes I think it’s just that people may not realize they’re in them even though a lot of them have flashing lights and signage.”
Austin said drivers should look for flashing lights or pay close attention to the specific time frames listed on school zone signs if lights are not present. Austin said motorists should also watch for extended stop signs and flashing lights on school buses as students get on and off.
“Especially right now, giving yourself some extra time if you know you’re going to have to go through a school zone in the morning on the way to work, maybe give yourself extra couple minutes leaving the house to give yourself a buffer so that you’re not having to speed or make up time,” Austin said.
Austin said Tennessee is a hands-free state, meaning drivers cannot support a phone with any part of their body while operating a vehicle.
Austin said school zones create extra issues on the roadway due to the high volume of vehicles and school buses entering and exiting parking lots. Austin said the lower speed limits are specifically designed to keep everyone safe while navigating these busy areas.
“I think in today’s society we’re we’re all in a hurry, most people are in a hurry,” Austin said. “And so we’re all trying to get from point A to point B, you know, efficiently and quickly and all that and so if you run into a school zone or if you run up on a stopped school bus it it kind of puts a hindrance on getting from point A to point B and that can be frustrating for people sometimes.”
Austin said distracted driving is a major contributor to crashes and citations, particularly in areas where other drivers are being mindful of the school speed limit.
“Speed, distracted driving, all those things are big contributors to crashes and citations so slow down a little bit, pay attention to what you’re doing, those are the pieces of advice I would give,” Austin said. “I think the remedy is to plan ahead. If you know that you have to pick up a kiddo, make the plan before the school time. Talk with your kids, create the plan, where you are going to be, where they need to be and all those things.”
Austin said parents should arrange pickup plans before getting behind the wheel to avoid the need for texting while driving. Austin said if an emergency arises that requires a change in plans, drivers should pull over safely to communicate rather than doing so while on the roadway.
