By JESSA LEWIS
6 News Reporter
KNOXVILLE (WATE) - Knox County students are gearing up for the first day of school Tuesday, and officers will make sure they get there safely all year.
"We have an extraordinary relationship with the Knox County Sheriff's Office and the Knoxville Police Department and it's been just a terrific working relationship, and I think that translates to greater safety for our students, and security for our schools," said Schools Superintendent Dr. Jim McIntyre.
Last year, KPD issued nearly 1,500 citations for speeding and reckless driving in school zones during the first two weeks of school.
"We're not trying to catch people. We want people to comply, and the reasoning behind that compliance is safety," said Police Chief David Rausch. "Again as I mentioned earlier, our most precious commodity is what we're talking about. We're talking about our children."
"What we usually do for the first two or three days, we try to give warnings to people we stop unless it's a flagrant violation, just to let them know because we know it's been three months and they're not used to these school zones," said Sheriff J. J. Jones.
Officers say it's not just your speed and driving behaviors you should pay attention to.
"They're children. They're unpredictable so we as adults in the driving and motoring public, we need to pay attention. We just need to watch. When you see children, slow down," Chief Rausch said.
The school zone warning lights have been flashing yellow for the past week to help prepare drivers for the new school year.
Last year, KPD issued nearly 1,500 citations for speeding and reckless driving in school zones during the first two weeks of classes.
