TOLEDO, Ohio — Students across Toledo will return to the classroom this week on a staggered start, which means school zone speed limits will be in effect on your morning commute.
"I think the first week will be a lot higher for speeding violations," Sgt. Aaron Riter with the Toledo Police Department said. "Then as the school year goes on, they start seeing us in school zones a lot more."
Sgt. Riter said Beverly, Heatherdowns, Upton and Hill Ave are among the worst spots in Toledo when it comes to drivers speeding through school zones. These location were compiled from both the number of tickets officers handed out during the 2021-2022 school year and the number of complaints filed from neighbors and school officials.
Police will be focused on keeping drivers in check in these areas as the school year continues. As a reminder, school zones have a speed limit of 20 miles per hour and speeding tickets cost twice as much as non-school zones. A ticket could come out to as much as $250.
Sgt. Riter suggested distraction might be at the heart of school zone speeding.
"Most of the time it's lack of attention," Sgt. Riter explained. "I don't know if it's they're on their phones or they're just not paying attention and they're focused on their drive to work. But I think that's the biggest thing. People need to stay focused on the road and on the route of travel."
If your child is walking to school or riding the school bus, make sure you're reviewing safety precautions to keep them safe in these areas.
"They just need to make sure their children are listening to the crossing guards, at the streets where they have designated crossing areas," Sgt. Riter said about student safety. "And they need to talk to their kids about staying on the sidewalks and looking both ways before they cross the street."