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Terrebonne Parish is currently working on installing speed monitoring cameras in every school zone in the parish. The process began earlier this year after Terrebonne Parish Sheriff Tim Soignet presented data showing the frequency of speed violations in school zones during hours that the schools are in session.
“I’m not talking about going just one or two miles over the speed limit. 60% of the traffic that’s going through school zones are going ten mph over or better above the posted speed limits. To me, that’s a problem,” said Soignet.
The study was done by Blue Line Solutions, an automated photo enforcement company, in cooperation with Terrebonne Parish and the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office. The studies were conducted over a five-day period, and were only conducted during school hours on school days. A speeder is defined in the study as, “a vehicle going 10 mph above the speed limit,” according to Mark Hutchinson of Blue Line Solutions.
The study showed that in school zones in places such as Coteau Rd., W. Main St., and LA-24, that there were thousands of speeders identified in the morning, afternoon and early evening. In the school zone along Bayou Black Dr., specifically, the study found that 79% of the vehicles counted in the morning were speeding and 87% counted in the afternoon were speeding as well.
Both Hutchinson and Soignet explained that the rollout of this project is not solely based in law enforcement, but in educating and informing the public as well. With cooperation between TPSO and the Terrebonne Parish School System, information would be sent from TPSO through the schools to the parents and students.
“This is really getting people to be cognizant of speeding. So, it’s kind of a learning process is what it really is. People just need to be more aware when they go into a school zone,” said Soignet. “The way I want it rolled out is more education and awareness where everybody’s got to take responsibility in these school zones for these children…We all recognize it’s a problem. Let’s own it and let’s do something together.”
Soignet said that he hopes to see the process for installing speed cameras begin as early as next year and to be well underway by the start of the next school year. The process entails installing the cameras in each school zone in the parish, as well as implementing a three-step warning system for drivers. First, a “Speed is Enforced by Camera” sign, then a speed radar to show the speed vehicles are currently traveling at, and finally, the flashing “School Zone” signs that most school zones already have.
“We’re better than just throwing a speed limit sign up or having a cop sitting there with a radar pulling people over and writing a ticket. Let’s own it, let’s get it out there and let’s do something about it. To me, this is a better solution, a more long term solution,” said Soignet. “We’re moving forward with it. It’s coming. We’re working with parish government and council, we’re working with the company…So, I’m hoping by next year, we’ll have them in place, and the educational process can begin by next school year.”
Feature photo courtesy of social media.
