Jefferson City police step up enforcement near schools

Many Mid-Missouri students will head back to school next week, and law enforcement officials are taking extra measures to keep them safe.

For the first couple weeks of school, Jefferson City police will have extra officers looking for driving violations in school zones and along bus routes.

Last year, six children were killed in the U.S. by drivers ignoring school bus safety laws, according to the Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety.

“It only takes one accident or one crash in a school zone for us all to be reminded or take attention to the severity of something like that happening,” Sgt. Doug Ruediger with JCPD said. “So there’s not much leeway for speeding in school zones, very little at all.”

Officers will watch for speeding in school zones, school bus stop sign violations, seat belt violations and other dangerous driving behavior.

In Missouri, an estimated 417,000 vehicles illegally pass stopped school buses a year, according to the coalition.

“It’s not just the school zones, it’s the buses that carry kids, you know we typically see those motorists that run the stop arm,” Ruediger said. “When the buses are loading and picking up kids, a child can dart right out in front of a bus.”

But drivers are not the only ones who may need a reminder this time of year.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol is also working to keep students safe by going to schools and teaching students school bus safety.

“Children are very excited this time of year to go to school,” Lt. Paul Reinsch with the highway patrol said. “But they’re also very impulsive so we want to educate them on what to do when a bus is approaching and what do to once they unload.”