City of Aurora issued the following announcement on June 6.
Aurora is putting the spotlight on traffic safety this summer.
Mayor Richard C. Irvin and Aurora Police Chief Kristen Ziman this week announced Aurora’s “Slow Down, Phone Down” Campaign to encourage motorists to be mindful of speed limits and to stay focused while driving.
“School is out for summer and more children are playing in our neighborhoods, “said Mayor Irvin. “We need to all know the speed limits and slow down as we travel. We also need to follow the law, put our phones down and not be distracted while driving. By slowing down and putting our phones down, we can literally save lives.”
The campaign will be multi-faceted with publicity on social media, signage in neighborhoods and through a concentrated effort by the Aurora Police Department of monitoring areas where speeding and distracted driving have been reported.
“While our citations for texting and speeding have decreased substantially over the last two years, we can and must do better,” said Chief Ziman. “In a split second, lives can be lost in a traffic accident. In that same time, if a driver is focused, lives can be saved. We must make this a priority for the sake of our children.”
Joining the mayor and chief for the announcement was an Aurora student who has already made safety the priority at a young age.
A school safety patrol officer, Peter Portillo was just promoted last week from fifth grade at Oak Park Elementary. The soon-to-be middle schooler was recognized by the AAA Motor Club as the Illinois School Safety Patroller of the Year for his commitment to safety and security.
"Being a safety patrol gave me the opportunity to help people,” said Portillo who also received an award from the mayor. “If you help people in life, you can change the world. Even the smallest gesture can help."
The City’s goal is to keep Aurora safe by having the simple gestures of reducing speed and keeping the phones away while driving be the focus of motorists.
The first phase of the campaign will run for one month through the July 4 holiday. Updates will be provided during a media briefing in July where any further plans for the rest of the summer will be announced. #SlowDownPhoneDown
Original source can be found here.
Source: City of Aurora
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