DAVENPORT, Iowa — With the school year kicking off today in Davenport and Bettendorf, police and school officials want to ensure students and the public are safe in school zones.
Davenport officers monitored the school zone at Eisenhower Elementary on Friday as students arrived to remind people that class is back in session. Davenport Traffic Safety Lt. Jason Smith said they're trying to spread awareness to people in and outside of schools.
"Earlier this year we've had a couple of very serious pedestrian-involved crashes throughout the city that, yeah, it's, it's real, it can happen to anybody," Smith said.
Smith said besides speed checkers and police presence, Eisenhower Elementary also has crossing guards to help students like Aubrey Ott across the street. She said informing students is crucial especially as student's return to class.
"I think it's crucial so that way you know students are excited to come to school and know they're not gonna get hurt or anything," Ott said.
Davenport Schools Superintendent T.J. Schneckloth said schools in the area work with the city to further teach students how to stay safe throughout the school year.
"They're gonna talk about what sidewalks to take," Schneckloth said. "What crosswalks to take. Make sure that you get to a light as much as possible or try to find that crossing guard all those things are critically important."
As well as making sure elementary students are starting the year off on the right note.
"It's really important to get those kids off on the right foot," Smith said.
Schneckloth said officers go to local schools several times throughout the year to remind students of safety practices and procedures inside and outside of the classroom. Smith said texting while driving is another way accidents can occur in a school zone.