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Police to step up patrols for prom season

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By Valerie Lough, Staff Writer 5:56 PM Tuesday, March 29, 2011

SPRINGFIELD — Springfield police are stepping up patrols as prom season nears, targeting speeders and impaired drivers, officials said Tuesday.

The enforcement period will begin April 1 and continue through the end of May, said Lt. Tom Zawada, Springfield Police Division.

“This is when most of the high schools in the area are having proms, and our concern is drunk driving and reckless driving,” said Zawada.

The additional patrols will come from overtime funded by a grant through the Traffic Safety Office in the Ohio Department of Transportation.

Officials with Springfield City Schools are also reaching out to teens as the celebration season approaches.

Kim Fish, special projects and communications consultant for the district, said that officials are sponsoring a presentation by a motivational speaker whose twin sister was killed in a crash right after her 18th birthday.

Organizers are inviting junior and senior year students from other schools to attend the presentation at Springfield High School on April 13 from 9 to 10 a.m.

The traffic enforcement period beginning this weekend is one of 10 concentration efforts done throughout the year, some in conjunction with national campaigns, said Zawada.

Prom season is a critical time to educate teenagers about safe driving habits, he said.

“We want them to be aware of their surroundings and the danger of distracted driving,” said Zawada. “This is to remind them not to use the phone while they’re driving, to always buckle up.”

Zawada did not identify any target areas, saying that the enforcement will take place throughout the city.

Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0360 or vlough@coxohio.com.

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