Monrovia PD and AAA Team Up to Urge Drivers to Slow Down in School Zones

The Monrovia Police Department has teamed up with the Automobile Club of Southern California to remind motorists to "Pay Attention, Slow Down, and Watch for Children," especially now that school is back in session.

The department has put posters sponsored by AAA in and around schools urging drivers to slow down in school zones, according to the department's website.

"According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, a pedestrian struck by a vehicle traveling at a reduced school zone speed of 25 mph is nearly two-thirds less likely to be killed compared to a pedestrian struck by a vehicle traveling just 10 mph faster," the Monrovia Police Department wrote on its website. "School zone speed limits are in place to save lives."

Besides the message to slow down, AAA also offers the following tips to help keep both children and drivers safe in school zones. 

• Ditch distractions - Research shows that taking your eyes off the road for just two seconds doubles your chances of crashing.
  
• Stay alert - Don’t rush into and out of driveways. Expect pedestrians on the sidewalk, especially around schools and in neighborhoods.
  
• Stop at stop signs - It sounds obvious, but research shows that more than one third of drivers roll through stop signs in school zones or neighborhoods.
  
• Watch for bikes - Children on bicycles are often unpredictable; expect the unexpected.
  
• Brake for buses - A recent National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services survey showed that over 75,000 vehicles pass stopped school buses on a typical day, with more than three percent passing on the right. Not only is it dangerous, it’s against the law.
  
• Plan ahead - Leave early for your destination and build in extra time for congestion. If possible, modify your route to avoid school zones.