School zone safety emphasized in Colorado Springs

The back-to-school period requires an adjustment for drivers and pedestrians, who need to remember the importance of slowing down and staying alert in school safety zones.
Officials in Colorado Springs held a school awareness event Monday morning at Mountain Vista School, in Harrison District 2.

Officials want to remind people to be careful in those zones, especially with younger children walking to and from school and with the city having an unusually high number of pedestrians killed in traffic accidents this year.

“It’s little things like changing the radio station, reaching for a cup of coffee or talking to someone in the back seat,” said Kathleen Krager, city traffic engineer. “All it takes is a second of not being aware of what’s going on to put yourself in a dangerous situation.”

“There isn’t a range that you’re going to get on your ticket in a school zone,” said Lt. Mike Velasquez, of the Colorado Springs Police Department. “The reason is that any speeding violation in a school zone is going to be a mandatory court appearance at city court, and it’s up to a judge to decide the penalty.”
A teacher and parent living in District 2 said they regularly see drivers speeding through school zones.

“It makes we worry about the safety of crossing guards,” said Teresa Fraire, a parent.

But hearing from a student may be the most convincing reason to be safe in school zones.

“I feel like it needs to be a little bit more safe for kids because of all the accidents that happen,” said Ryan Keith, a fifth-grader at Mountain Vista. “They’re doing OK with it, but it should be better.”

Seven pedestrians have died in traffic accidents in Colorado Springs so far this year.