[August 26, 2015, Bel Air, MD] As the summer comes to a close and our children go back to school, Harford County Sheriff’s Office Deputies are stepping up traffic enforcement efforts to ensure our children’s safety.

It is important to remember, “Back to School” means increased traffic with buses, cars, pedestrians, and bicycles on the road. Throughout the county, deputies will be conducting special traffic enforcement initiatives in an effort to educate motorists on the proper ways to keep our school children safe as they make their way to and from school. Speed Enforcement and Saturation Patrols targeting designated school zones are key focus areas for deputies this week.

These high visibility enforcement efforts are designed to reduce the number of aggressive driving violations that contribute to crashes on Harford’s roads. Deputies and local law enforcement will target dangerous drivers and educate the public through strict traffic enforcement. Sheriff Gahler states, “Our goal is to be a visible reminder to all motorists that speeding and driving while distracted are not a good ways to start the school year.”

Please pay attention to your speed and watch out for the children and crossing guards as well as school buses loading and offloading children at schools and in our neighborhoods. Trying to save a few seconds of your time by passing a school bus while it’s red flashing lights are activated is not only dangerous, but can cost you $570 in fines.

The Harford County Sheriff’s Office and the Harford County Traffic Taskforce continue to support the Maryland Highway Safety Office’s ‘Move Toward Zero Deaths’ campaign.

The Harford County Traffic Task Force is comprised of deputies, troopers, and officers from all law enforcement agencies in the County. The TTF meets one day a week, day and times vary, and conduct aggressive enforcement in high crash areas and those areas that receive multiple complaints.