With most schools starting their 2016-17 school year on Monday, the Pottsville police are starting a program to raise awareness for safe travel of all students.
Police Chief Richard F. Wojciechowsky and Mayor James T. Muldowney announced Tuesday that the city will be using a program called “Safe School Start.”
With safety in mind, Wojciechowsky said that Pottsville Bureau of Police officers will be conducting extra mobile and foot patrols during the first days of school.
He said that in addition to the foot patrols, uniformed officers’ specialized patrols will concentrate on highlighting the enforcement of state Vehicle Code violations with emphasis being placed on school travel safety issues.
Among those issues are school zone safety speeds, distracted driving and duties at a school bus.
Also emphasized will be pedestrians in crosswalks, school zone speed limitations — 15 miles per hour — meeting or overtaking a school bus and the Prohibiting Text Based Communications law.
Wojciechowsky said officers will also be focusing on promoting safe pedestrian travel practices by students.
The extra patrols, he said, will be both in the morning and afternoon.
“Mayor Muldowney and the Pottsville Bureau of Police ask everyone to cooperate in the Safe School Start as well as with safety practices on a regular basis throughout the school year,” Wojciechowsky said. “Leave early, always be alert, look out for all children as if they were your own and remind a neighbor to do the same.”