Awareness program seeks to slow down drivers, protect kids
MINOOKA – Area residents are being reminded to watch their speed in residential neighborhoods and throughout the community.
Minooka police and the Minooka Fire Protection District are partnering to provide a traffic safety campaign, "Keep Kids Alive, Drive 25."
Yard signs are available to show support for the campaign.
The campaign will focus on reducing speeding in residential neighborhoods and encourage drivers to monitor their speed while traveling throughout the community.
"The children of our community are precious," Minooka Police Chief Doug Hayse said, "and we all need to take special care and slow down around schools, parks, and around our neighborhoods."
By working with Neighborhood Watch programs, homeowner associations, schools, PTOs, and the public education coordinator from the Minooka Fire Protection District, the goal is to bring awareness to the community that speeding in residential neighborhoods can cause serious accidents, especially where pedestrians are involved, Hayse said.
Chief Hayse said the department receives numerous complaints throughout the year regarding speeding in residential neighborhoods. Most of those speeding live in the same neighborhood.
Based on actual accident reports, a pedestrian struck by a vehicle going 30 mph is three times more likely to die than one hit at 25 mph.
Minooka Fire Chief Al Yancey said raising awareness about slowing down in residential neighborhoods protects children.
"It is very traumatic for everyone when a child must be transported by ambulance to the local hospital after being struck by a vehicle," he said. "Awareness throughout the community will slow traffic, encourage motorists to watch carefully and help prevent another child from being struck."
Minooka residents can purchase yard signs, which will increase awareness in their neighborhoods.
A sign is $15 and can be purchased from Denis Tatgenhorst at the Minooka Police Department at (815) 467-2298 or Cindy Olson at the fire department at (815) 416-0339, extension 22.
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