Officers hand out more speeding tickets as school begins

The increased patrols are intended to promote safety in school zones.

ROANOKE, Va. – As soon as children head back to school, officers are increasing patrols across the region.

With many school zones inactive over the past few summer months, it can be difficult for drivers to remember to reduce their speeds. But police say it's important to look out for those flashing school zone signs and slow down right away.

It's not just drivers that need to be more careful but students who walk to school as well. Officer Fatima Foster, the traffic safety officer for Roanoke City Police, says one of the most dangerous things she sees kids do is wearing headphones as they walk to school. She says having that music funneling right into your ears can make it hard to hear what's going on around you, especially when you should be looking and listening for traffic as you cross the street.

"The main thing is just pay attention to where you're going. Make sure you cross the street a designated crosswalks, not between cars. That reduces your visibility and increases your chance of being hit by a car," she says. "Make sure the cars see you before you see them."

Officers are also watching for drivers who don't follow the laws about school buses. Foster says trying to pass a bus when it's stopped puts everyone in danger.

"You have the risk of hitting a kid, hitting a parent or an adult it's picking up or dropping off their child, or hitting another car that's trying to run the stop sign as well," she says. "It's just not a good combination."

The biggest increase in police presence will continue to be in school zones and near schools throughout the region.