Grandview Heights students head back to class Aug. 12, and Officer Smith of the Grandview Heights Police Department has a message for anyone walking to school: put the phone away and use the crosswalk.
Smith shared a video on the city's official X account and Instagram page Monday, Aug. 10, laying out four rules for students on foot:
- Always use crosswalks.
- Put phones away while walking.
- If no sidewalk is available, walk facing traffic.
- Wear bright or visible clothing.
The tips are simple. They're also the kind of habits that slip over summer break.
"Drivers, we also need your help. Please remember to slow down in school zones and be alert," Smith said in the video.
That appeal to motorists comes alongside a concrete infrastructure change on one of the city's busiest corridors. Grandview Heights reduced the speed limit on Grandview Avenue from Mulford Road to City View Drive, dropping it from 35 mph to 25 mph after a traffic study conducted by EP Ferris recommended the change. The city said the reduction is meant to improve safety for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists along the stretch, which many students cross on their daily route to school.
A 10-mph difference may not sound dramatic, but at 25 mph a driver's stopping distance shrinks significantly compared to 35 mph, giving kids an extra margin when they step off the curb.
Parents and residents with questions can reach the Grandview Heights Police Department at (614) 488-7901. The full video, which may include additional guidance beyond what the city summarized online, is available on the city's Instagram page.
