The Monrovia Police Department has launched a campaign starting in August that reminds us to slow down in the name of safety.
“The Keep Kids Alive - Drive 25” anti-speeding campaign kicked off on National Night Out on Aug. 2. The intent is to remind drivers with signs, vests and even stickers on garbage cans to drive within the speed limit – especially in residential neighborhoods.
“Traffic enforcement impacts the number of speeding violators on our residential streets, but it is not the only solution to the problem,” said Monrovia Police Chief Jim Hunt. “The Keep Kids Alive Drive 25 traffic safety education program will be an important tool to help reduce the number of drivers exceeding the residential speed limit.”
Residents can pick up free signs and stickers from the Police Department’s lobby at 140 E. Lime Avenue, or by calling Sgt. Glen Coleman at (626) 256-8020. To get a yard sign, all residents need to do is sign up by leaving their name and address, and the Police Department will come by in two months to pick up the signs so the signs can be used in another neighborhood.
The program was initiated following concerns expressed by participants of a neighborhood survey, in which they noted the number of speeders on their streets. In response, the department performed a street radar survey.
Through the street radar survey, it was discovered between 2 to 12 percent of drivers exceed the speed limit on residential streets, and over 70 percent of the speeders are residents of the neighborhood. The survey also revealed that while violations occurred throughout the day, the highest volume of traffic occurred in the morning and afternoon.
The Drive 25 campaign – which is part of a national campaign based out of Nebraska – will hopefully make these drivers more aware of their speed by reinforcing to them to slow down with images of children playing in the street. The campaign comes at a time when children are gearing up to return back to school.
The Drive 25 campaign is among the several traffic safety programs offered by the Monrovia Police Department. To learn more about these programs, visit the website at
www.cityofmonrovia.org.
- Brad Haugaard (from Police Department press release)
