Redmond officials are asking drivers to slow down, especially near schools.

Representatives from the city and the Redmond School District promoted the “Slow Down Redmond” campaign at an Oct. 3 news conference at John Tuck Elementary School. A group of students sat behind the speakers.

More than 20 percent of the 270 written comments submitted as part of the city’s recent community survey dealt with pedestrian safety, City Councilor Joe Centanni said. The issue is expected to become even more serious after Daylight Saving Time ends, causing it to be dark when kids come home from school starting Nov. 7.

Centanni encouraged people to avoid driving too fast because they are late.

“I think everyone would agree that the safety of our kids is more important than being late to work,” he said.

Each Redmond elementary school is handing out yellow yard signs reading “Slow down! It’s our neighborhood” that residents can pick up.

Superintendent Mike McIntosh pointed out that many young children aren’t even tall enough to see over the hood of a car.

“We don’t even want close calls,” he said. “Take your time and slow down.”

Police are taking new steps in education and enforcement of speeding in school zones. Sgt. Curtis Chambers said officers are using lightweight laser devices to read vehicle speeds. The devices can’t be discovered using conventional radar detectors. Police issue fines of $110 for driving between 1 and 10 mph over the speed limit, up to $435 for those found driving more than 30 mph over the limit. Those fines double in school zones.

Studies show that a child hit by a car driving 20 mph has a 90 percent chance of survival, but that chance drops to 50 percent for a car driving 30 mph and 10 percent for one driving 40 mph, Chambers said.

“If the fines are not enough to dissuade you, please think of your children or other people’s children,” he said.

When given a chance to ask questions, one student asked not about driving safety, but about a recent report of the national trend of scary clowns hitting Redmond.

“Redmond Police Department is taking these reports very seriously,” Chambers said. “We encourage people, if they see something suspicious, to give us a call.”

— Reporter: 541-548-2186, gfolsom@redmondspokesman.com