Police remind motorists to heed school zone warning flashers and slow down

August 25, 2008

CARY , NC – 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 newest safety initiative – “Operation Flasher Backer.”  Beginning today through September 30, 2008 , Cary ’s traffic safety team will back up the new school zone warning measures that were installed this summer with increased visibility in 62 school zones near 26 Cary schools.

Each school day, Police will monitor two school zones in Cary that are timed and located so that an officer can move from one after its expiration to the beginning of another one.  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 Mark Parker.  “We hope that our increased presence and enforcement will make motorists more aware of the speed limits and the new warning measures in school zones.”

The Town began installing new signs and flashers earlier this year and completed the installation just in time for the start of the traditional school year.  As shown here, the nearly 14-foot tall combined flasher and sign display the speed limit, and an amber warning flasher above the sign helps heighten awareness of the speed limits.

Parker noted that the signs and “Operation Flasher Backer” are part of the Town’s comprehensive efforts to increase safety following two vehicle-pedestrian crashes near Green Hope High School in 2006.  In July 2007, the Cary Town Council unanimously approved an ordinance amendment and policy that provided for lowering speed limits in school zones by 10 miles per hour in Cary’s school zones with no speed zone less than 25 miles per hour; the Council also approved a $260,000 appropriation to install signs and warning measures as part of the recommendations.

“Operation Flasher Backer” is just one of many safety initiatives that the Traffic Safety Team has implemented to promote highway safety.  Beginning in 2007, the Town initiated “Operation Patient Payoff” to help deter aggressive driving along major roads in Cary .

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