'Please Drive Carefully' Sign Campaign Extended To Batavia Residents

BATAVIA, IL — The "Please Drive Carefully" initiative that originally began with the city government and local organizations placing signs on their properties has expanded to encompass all Batavia residents, officials said Friday.

In June, the Batavia Park District, Batavia Public Library, City of Batavia and Batavia School District 101 announced their signage campaign as a way to promote safety in town following two tragic crashes on Route 31 in May.

On May 23, a woman on a bike exited Les Arends Forest Preserve to cross Batavia Avenue when a minivan crashed into her. Emily White died three days later, according to her obituary and a GoFundMe page created for her family.

About a week later, on May 31, a GMC SUV crashed into a teenage boy who was crossing Batavia Avenue while biking west on Union Avenue, Patch reported.

By placing signs on their properties, the City of Batavia, Batavia Public School District 101, Batavia Park District and Batavia Public Library hope to "increase awareness and encourage responsible driving behaviors to reduce the risk of crashes involving pedestrians," Patch reported.

RELATED: Batavia Organizations Collaborate To Promote Pedestrian Safety

The signs were first produced in limited quantities for public properties until Mayor Jeffery Schielke requested they be made available to all residents and businesses, according to a news release. The signs can be picked up at Batavia City Hall, 100 N. Island Drive; District 101 administrative offices, 335 W. Wilson St.; Batavia Public Library, 10 S. Batavia Ave.; and the Batavia Park District administrative offices, 327 W. Wilson St.

"Batavia has had some very serious traffic incidents this year, and speed and distracted driving have been a factor," Schielke said in a statement. "We hope that Batavia citizens will display these signs and that they will serve as a reminder to drivers to be more cautious."