GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) — Extra police officers will be patrolling near area schools this week as part of an ongoing traffic safety campaign in Green Bay. Green Bay Police’s traffic enforcement unit will be out in force on Thursday.
“They’ll be out during start times, especially, during breaks when the kids are outside, and at the end of the school day to make sure kids are obeying traffic laws around schools,” Police Chief Andrew Smith told WTAQ.
The enforcement effort is part of the Department’s “Slow Down Green Bay” Traffic initiative, aimed at lowering traffic accidents.
“We’re really ramping up our enforcement of those traffic violations that cause accidents,” Smith said. “Distracted driving. Speeding. Not stopping for pedestrians in the roadway.”
The department added several new traffic enforcement officers last year. In December, Smith said that traffic concerns were among the most common citizen complaints received by the department.
“Even when it’s wet and slippery people are still speeding. It’s not unusual to see someone going 20, 30 miles and hour over the speed limit here in Green Bay, even if there are terrible driving conditions,” said Smith. “So we really need people to slow down.”
Thursday’s school zone enforcement won’t be the last one the department does this year. Several more are planned during the next few months of the school year.
