Are School Zones Safe Enough?
By: Amy Montalvo
Updated: May 12, 2009
An Irons Middle School student who was struck by a vehicle at a crosswalk last week, is making a full recovery, but the incident brings up questions about the safety of Lubbock school zones. LISD Chief of Police Tom Nichols says, keeping students safe as they travel to and from school is a top priority.
Officials work with the city and Lubbock police to install crosswalks, stop signs, and flashing school zone signs in the necessary areas. All elementary schools have 'crossing guards' to help guide younger students across the street.
Says Nichols, "Considering that 28 or 29,000 kids are going back and forth twice a day, we do remarkably well. At some point, however well we mark the place or have it staffed, it's still incumbent upon the individual driver, it's still incumbent upon the individual pedestrian to obey good traffic safety."
