Zonta Club of Auburn Urges Traffic Safety as School Year Begins

As the school year commences, the Zonta Club of Auburn is emphasizing the importance of traffic safety in school zones. With many students relying on school buses for transportation, the organization seeks to remind the community about the critical safety measures that protect children during their daily commutes.

During a recent segment on Channel 9 news, Capt. Jeffery Slater, police chief of Manlius, discussed the ongoing efforts to ensure safety around school zones. The police department has distributed flyers since the 1980s, warning drivers about the severe penalties for speeding through school zones or passing stopped school buses. Fines for these infractions can range from $300 to $1,200. Capt. Slater recalled a near miss involving a girl exiting her bus last year, underscoring the real danger on the roads.

His department’s proactive measures include the installation of new stop arm cameras on school buses, which have proven effective in capturing the license plates of drivers who violate the law. In the previous year, the department issued 197 tickets for school zone violations, with 71 tickets recorded during the fall when school resumes.

In an effort to further educate the public, the Zonta Club of Auburn reached out to CarolAnn Difabio, director of transportation for the Auburn Enlarged City School District. She emphasized the importance of community awareness as the school year begins. “School buses make frequent stops, and drivers must be vigilant for the red and yellow lights,” she stated. “If you see the bus with its yellow lights on, assume the red lights will follow. It is crucial to stop and not attempt to outrun the yellow lights.”

As the seasons change and weather conditions fluctuate, the challenges faced by school bus drivers can increase. The Zonta Club of Auburn highlights the need for drivers to remain attentive, especially during the fall and winter months when visibility and road conditions may be compromised.

In addition to the newly installed cameras, areas surrounding schools now have the capacity to record driver activity, enabling law enforcement to take appropriate action against violators. This technological advancement is a significant step toward enhancing student safety.

The Zonta Club of Auburn calls on all community members to take responsibility for adhering to traffic laws regarding school buses. The organization believes that by working together, the community can ensure a safer environment for children as they travel to and from school.

For further information on the Zonta Club of Auburn and its initiatives, individuals can visit zonta.org or zontadistrict2.org, or contact via email at [email protected].