INDIANAPOLIS — New safety technology is hoping to slow down drivers in nearly two dozen school zones across Marion County.
Wednesday morning, the Indianapolis Department of Public Works and Indianapolis Public Schools celebrated the installation of 50 new flashing beacon devices in school zones that didn’t have them. Once complete, it will mean more than 200 schools across the city will have this technology.
DPW hopes it’s another way to alert drivers that they are entering a school zone and to slow down.
The flashing beacons are solar-powered. They will flash an hour before and an hour after the first bell, and then 30 minutes before the afternoon bell and 90 minutes after that. That is a total of four hours each day.
“We all share a responsibility to ensure all road users get to their destination safely,” DPW director Brandon Herget said. “When you pass an active school zone beacon, slow down and pay extra attention to ensure our kids — the most vulnerable pedestrians in our city — get to and from school safely.”
The installations are part of the city’s five-year, $1.2 billion capital plan. Each flashing beacon sign costs about $17,000.
“So, these aren’t minor investments. They are major capital investments,” Herget said.
One of them was just installed on East 10th Street near Brookside School 54. Neighbors and families in the area said it is necessary.
“It’s very dangerous, very dangerous. We are all concerned,” said Kim Conner, who lives down the block from the school. “People literally drive 60 or 70 mph. You are not drag racing. You are not late to nothing. Please, just slow down.”
IPS Superintendent Dr. Alessia Johnson said this investment is a priority for the district, saying reckless driving is a big issue.
“IPS has been impacted multiple times by our students experiencing harm, injury and even unfortunately death because of the result of reckless driving,” Johnson said. “So, to have additional measures in place that can keep our young people safe is certainly something we are very thankful for.”
The goal is to finish installing all the flashing beacon signs by the end of the year.
Here are the schools that are receiving flashing beacon signs:
- A Children's Habitat
- Allegiant Preparatory Academy
- Brookside School 54
- Building Blocks Academy
- Cardinal Ritter High School
- Christ Church Christian Academy
- Christ Temple Christian Academy
- Christel House Academy West
- Clearwater Elementary School
- Fortune Academy
- Hagia Sophia Classical Academy
- Herron Preparatory Academy
- Indianapolis Southside Christian Academy
- Indy West Christian School
- James Whitcomb Riley School 43
- Lynhurst 7th & 8th Grade Center
- Maria Montessori International Academy
- Marian University Preparatory School
- Matchbook Learning
- Shepherd Community Academy
- Vision Academy at Riverside
- Wayne Preparatory Academy
- Worthmore Academy