Buffalo Grove Police Step Up Efforts to Slow Speeders in School Zones

The Buffalo Grove Police Department is taking steps to slow speeders as area children head back to school.

The Buffalo Grove Police Department will be posting lawn and magnetic signs to encourage drivers to slow down and to remain aware while driving in school zones, according to a city of Buffalo Grove news release. In addition to posting signs, the traffic unit will focus their attention on speeding and distracted drivers in school zones.

More than 50 million students across the United States will begin their school year in the next several weeks, and approximately 13 percent of students will walk or ride their bikes, according to the press release.

Here is a look at area school district start dates:

• District 102: August 17
• District 96: August 17
• District 214 (Buffalo Grove High School): August 22
• District 125 (Stevenson High School): August 15 (Freshman Orientation: August 12)

During the hours of 3 to 7 p.m., more children pedestrians are struck by vehicles than any other time of the school day. According to AAA, children who were struck by vehicles during those time periods in 2015, 11,000 were injured, and more than 300 are killed, on average.

A pedestrian struck by a vehicle traveling at 25bmph is two-thirds less likely to be killed compared to a vehicle traveling 10 mph faster.

The Buffalo Grove Police Department would like to remind individuals driving through the village and all other areas to slow down, obey crossing guards and watch for flashing bus lights.