SAN ANTONIO -- Despite pleas from police and educators to slow down in school zones, some motorists find it’s easier to defy the rules of the road than to obey them.
Four weeks into the school year, Virginia A. Meyers Elementary brought in a speed wagon on Tuesday for the first time. The Northside Independent School District hopes to stop speeding problems in the wake of a rash of complaints.
“It’s just creating an awareness to help people understand students’ safety is the first priority,” said Principal Tesilia Soliz.
Safety is a district-wide priority as well. That’s why the speed box gets regularly shifted from school to school, leaving the enforcement of the road rules to crossing guard, Maxine Allen.
“I just fear something is going to happen if they don’t slow down,” she said.
The speed limit out front of the school is 20 mph, but Allen says speeders sometimes hit 40 mph -- especially during the morning rush, when commuters race to get to work.
Allen wants speed bumps put down on the road. But in the meantime, she enforces her own version of law and order, either by yelling at scofflaws with a megaphone or loudly blowing her whistle.
“It’s just something I like to do: help kids,” Allen said. “I got grandkids.”
