Police hope program will make drivers more careful around
children, schools
Morgan Hill – As Morgan Hill Unified School District students returned to class for their second week of instruction this week, parents may have noticed an increased police presence on the roads around the schools, as “Operation Safe Schools” kicked off Monday.
The program’s goal is to make Morgan Hill drivers aware that kids are back in school requiring them to slow down, watch increased traffic and be careful around pedestrians and bicyclists.
Sometimes, however, the parents who are dropping students off can be the worst offenders, police say.
“Everyone is pressed for time in the mornings, but driving the speed limit versus driving over the speed limit doesn’t save that much time,” said Morgan Hill police Sgt. David Swing. “And not only are they not saving time, but they are exposing themselves to the real possibility of losing time, possibly 20 to 30 minutes if they are fortunate enough to only get ticketed, and hours if they are involved in an accident.”
Swing said other “time saving” measures such as double parking, which is common at Nordstrom Elementary, and dropping of students in unsafe locations to avoid school drop-off loops are very dangerous for students and are the types of driving infractions officers will be looking for.
Officers will be focusing on traffic around school areas, watching for drivers going over the posted 25 mph speed limit, drivers not yielding to pedestrians in crosswalks, parking violations, stop sign and right-of-way violations and seat-belt violations.
During the 10-day campaign, which ends Sept. 8, Swing said officers will be concentrating on problem areas including Monterey Road at Central Avenue in the area of Britton Middle School, East Dunne Avenue in the area of Nordstrom Elementary, East Main Avenue at Calle Mazatan in the area of El Toro Elementary and Trail Drive near Jackson Elementary.
During last year’s Operation Safe Schools, officers issued approximately 25 citations, Swing said, most of them for speeding. Officers routinely ticket drivers traveling 40, 45 and 50 mph in the 25-mph school zones.
With the new traffic enforcement unit, and an extra officer added to the on-duty team during Operation Safe Schools, there are more officers to station themselves around schools to encourage good driving habits. Swing said many times, the presence of an officer monitoring traffic in an area for several days will have a long-term impact on the driving habits of people who regularly travel in that area.
Morgan Hill police hope Operation Safe Schools will help drivers and pedestrians to develop safe habits that will last throughout the school year.
Marilyn Dubil covers education and law enforcement for The Times. Reach her at (408) 779-4106 ext. 202 or at
md****@mo*************.com.
