A number of traffic officers were at the Ponce De Leon and Coral Road crossroads yesterday to bring more awareness of school zones to drivers.

Assistant Superintendent Kenwood Taylor, officer in charge of the Traffic Division, said they were doing a routine speed check and traffic assistance.

He said there were 66 accidents in June for Grand Bahama but in August the number jumped to 84.

"We have noticed over the past few weeks, particularly the week that school opened, that there was a proliferation of traffic accidents caused by persons driving without due care and attention," he said.

Taylor said their objective was to make motorists aware of the need to drive with care and attention and within the required speed limit.

"Here in the school zone which began at 8am, the speed limit is now 15 mph.

We have had persons going as fast as 35 - 40 mph within the school zone, so my officers are currently issuing warnings to those persons who are exceeding the speeding limit. We are ticketing those persons who are not wearing seat belts and for persons who are driving without due care and attention.

"That means driving while on the cell phone, applying make up, or doing anything that would prevent them from fully concentrating on driving a motor vehicle."

He said an officer will be posted at the junction every day during the school zone hours.

Further, he asked drivers to be very careful and cognizant in this area at night, because he said they have had complaints about objects being thrown at night.