With student safety on the line, Tusculum Police are bringing back automated speed cameras in school zones after data revealed thousands of drivers ignoring speed limits near Chuckey-Doak schools.
The Tusculum Police Department is relaunching its automated photo speed enforcement program around Chuckey-Doak High School, Doak Elementary, and Chuckey-Doak Middle School in a renewed effort to protect children and reduce speeding in school zones.
The move follows troubling data from speed studies conducted in August and September of 2022, which revealed widespread noncompliance with posted school zone speed limits. Over a five-day period, 6,020 speeding violations were recorded out of 38,580 vehicles—meaning more than 15% of drivers were speeding. Of those, nearly 1,000 were clocked at over 21 MPH above the speed limit, putting students and pedestrians at serious risk.
“Speed kills,” the department emphasized, pointing to national data showing that a child hit by a car going 40 MPH has only a 10% chance of survival compared to a 90% chance if the vehicle is traveling just 20 MPH.
To combat the issue, the program pairs public awareness efforts with clear signage, flashing lights, and visible speed indicators near school zones. Cameras will only be active during school days when children are present and beacon lights are flashing. Drivers caught traveling 10 MPH or more over the posted limit will receive a civil citation in the mail. These citations carry a fine but will not impact driver’s license points or insurance rates.
The enforcement period officially begins August 6th, following a warning phase that wrapped up at the end of last school year.
The department says its goal is to change driver behavior, reduce excessive speeding, and make school zones safer for everyone—students, parents, teachers, and the broader motoring public.
“Working together,” the department stated, “we can reach our goal of zero: zero crashes, zero injuries, and zero endangered lives.”
