It'll be a while until the end of the summer heat, but summer vacation ends on Thursday, August 9th for students in the Dalton Public Schools System. That means school zone speed limits will also go back into effect that morning. The Dalton Police Department will be concentrating efforts on speed enforcement in school zones in an effort to keep kids safe by slowing down traffic near our schools. Both the Traffic Enforcement Unit (TEU) and Patrol Division will be increasing patrols. School zones experience higher volumes of vehicle and pedestrian traffic during morning and afternoon pickup and dropoff times.
The following areas have posted school zones:
- Dalton High School – Waugh Street from the east entrance of Manly Street to the west entrance of Manly Street. The posted school zone speed limit is 30 mph when the warning lights are flashing. There are flashing lights at both ends of the school zone to warn motorists of the zone.
- Dalton Middle School – Cross Plans Blvd. from the By-Pass to Dalton Middle School. The posted speed limit is 25 mph at all times.
- Roan Street Elementary School – Martin Luther King Blvd. from just west of Grimes Street to Grade Street. The posted school zone speed limit is 30 mph when the warning lights are flashing. There are flashing lights at both ends of the school zone to remind motorists of the zone.
- Blue Ridge Elementary School / Morris Street High School – Morris Street from Harris Street to just east of Fourth Ave., the posted school zone speed limit is 25 mph when the warning lights are flashing. Also on Fredrick St. from McAfee St to Morris St., the posted school zone speed limit is 20 mph when children are present in the area.
- City Park Elementary School – Thornton Ave. from School Street to Crawford Street. The posted school zone speed limit is 25 mph when the warning lights are flashing.
- Brookwood Elementary School – Central Ave. from Frances Street to Brown Street. The posted school zone speed limit is 25 mph at all times.
- Westwood Elementary School – Trammel Street from Tyler Street to Richards Street, which is a one-way street heading north and on Jones Street from Richards Street to Tyler Street, which is a one-way street heading south.
Even outside of school zones, drivers should take extra care to keep an eye out near crosswalks around schools for children walking to and from schools. Officers will be monitoring intersections in an attempt to prevent pedestrian involved crashes.
In school zones, speeding fines can be twice the amount of a normal speeding citation, and points assessed on driving records can also be doubled.
Please be aware of any school zones that you pass on your morning or afternoon commutes and allow extra time to reach your destination so you'll be able to slow down in these areas and obey the school zone speed limit. That way, we can be make sure this will be a safe school year for students. Keep an eye out for kids walking to school, because they sometimes dart out into traffic without looking.
The Dalton Police Department also reminds motorists to buckle up, and obey all posted speed limits in an effort to reduce the number of serious injury accidents.
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