As a result of the School Zone Safety grant program, a national competition sponsored by All Traffic Solutions (ATS), a traffic safety solutions company, Eustace Independent School District (EISD) in Eustace, received a radar speed display from the company. School officials, the mayor and members of the police department gathered on Feb. 19 with Ted Graef, president of All Traffic Solutions for a ceremony to celebrate the delivery and installation of the sign.
“The School Zone Safety grant program was started when we realized that many communities could benefit from a radar speed display, but could not fit it into their budgets, especially in the current economic environment,” said ATS President Ted Graef.
Mike Tayem of the Eustace Police Department spearheaded the grant submission effort on behalf of the school. He sees the addition of the sign as the addition of another police officer. The local force for the town of 1,300 residents is stretched thin and is limited to having only one officer on the street at a time.
Dr. Coy Holcombe, superintendent of the EISD, noted that the sign has had an immediate effect. “Parents and school staff members have called to thank me for the sign. Everyone is admitting to the same thing – driving much faster than they should in a school zone. The sign is changing behavior.” Holcombe continues on to explain, “We have a multi-street school zone and people tend to forget whether they are in it or not. The new sign provides a much needed reminder.”
The school district will share the traffic data collected by the sign with the local police department, the mayor’s office and city council so that they can collectively assess ways to improve traffic safety in the community and to most efficiently use their resources.
Lee County School District in Fort Myers, Fla. also received a radar speed display from the company is the other school to be awarded a radar speed display.