New Canaan Police To Increase Speed, Traffic Enforcement In September

Information via the New Canaan Police Department

NEW CANAAN, CT — As students return to New Canaan schools this fall, police plan to increase speed and traffic enforcement in town throughout the month of September to help ensure their safety.

In a news release provided by the department, Police Lt. Marc DeFelice said local traffic will be congested in school neighborhoods again as the summer winds down and the new school year begins.

Drivers will also have a renewed sense of urgency to make it to school and work on time, according to DeFelice.

"We remind drivers to obey the posted speed limits," DeFelice said in a news release, "be wary of children walking to school and the bus stop, yield to pedestrians in crosswalks and never pass a stopped school bus with flashing lights and extended stop arms."

New Canaan police will be conducting extra speed and traffic enforcement throughout town during the month of September, and DeFelice urged drivers to "obey the law and avoid a ticket."

"Students, drivers, and pedestrians are all safer when vehicle operators follow the rules of the road," DeFelice said. "When safety is disregarded, tragedy can occur all too easily."

According to DeFelice, the National Highway Safety Administration recently noted "104 people died in school-transportation-related crashes in 2022. From 2013 to 2022 more than 1,000 people died in school-transportation-related crashes, and 198 of those were children age 18 and younger. Of those children killed, 40% were occupants of other vehicles, 38 percent were pedestrians, 18 percent were occupants of school transportation vehicles, 3 percent were bicyclists, and 1 percent were using personal devices such as skateboards, scooters and wheelchairs."

New Canaan police encourage all residents to work together to keep the roads in town safe, according to DeFelice.