As students head back to Cary schools for the start of another school year, Cary Police are reminding motorists to pay attention to speed limits in school zones and slow down through its annual safety initiative – “Schools In, Speeds Out.”  Beginning Tuesday, August 25 through September 15, 2009, Cary’s Traffic Safety Team will reinforce school zone warning measures with increased visibility in school zones near 28 Cary schools.
 
Each school day, The Town of Cary Police Department’s Traffic Safety Team will monitor the school zones in Cary, rotating the zones according to the beginning and end times for each school.  Police will monitor the chosen school zones during both the morning and afternoon times. 

“Historically, there is always a period of time at the beginning of school that some motorists may not remember the lowered speed limits because of the summer break,” said Lieutenant Randall Rhyne.  “We hope that our increased presence and enforcement will make motorists more aware of the speed limits and the warning measures in school zones.”  Rhyne added that the Town will also begin displaying safety messages on its dynamic message signs when school resumes on Tuesday.

“Schools In, Speeds Out” is just one of many safety initiatives that the Town implemented to promote highway safety.  In 2007 the Town initiated “Operation Patient Payoff”, an ongoing campaign to help deter aggressive driving along major roads in Cary.  During summer 2008, the Town installed 14-foot tall combined flashers and signs that display speed limits in school zones, and amber warning flashers above the signs to help heighten awareness of the speed limits.