The city of Youngstown has teamed up with schools to put the brakes on drivers speeding in school zones as of Tuesday.
 
Drivers speeding will get a warning But after one month the warnings will turn into citations with fines.
 
A study of traffic at school zones in Youngstown shows the number of drivers going ten miles or more over the speed limit is excessive.
 
That can mean the difference between life or death.
 
If a driver traveling 20 miles an hour hits a child in vehicle, 9 out of ten times the child will survive.
 
That same driver traveling at 40 miles an hour who hits a child, 9 times out of ten the child won't survive.  The difference is just 20 miles an hour more.
 
Youngstown city, police and the school partnered with Blue Line Solutions to help drivers put the breaks on speeding through school zones.
 
Residents near Kirkmere Elementary say drivers speeding in school zones is a disaster waiting to happen.  
 
"Whether they're trying to beat the light or not they're speeding anyway. You know either way they're moving. They're ignoring the speed limit, school or no school it really doesn't matter," said Philip Adams.
 
Drivers will have plenty of visible notice to let them know their speed is being monitored. 
Speed limits for each schools individual hours will be posted. 
 
They will see a speed sign stating the area is photo enforced.
 
Some areas will have digital displays showing the speed each driver is traveling.
 
Beginning January 17th warning citations will be sent out for the first month.
 
But but February 17th speeding drivers will face fines.
 
"The ultimate goal is to create a safer environment for our students, parents, teachers and anyone else traveling through school zones by reducing the amount of speeding vehicles," Youngstown Detective Sergeant Jose Morales said.
 
The photo enforcement citations are not considered a criminal traffic violation so points won't accrue against your drivers license and your insurance company won't be notified.
 
Fines will range from 100 to 150 dollars depending on how many miles you are driving over the speed limit.
 
Photo enforcement will start at different posted times of day, however it ends at 9 p.m. at all Youngstown schools.
 
The school zones will be enforced at times when students will be there including for sports and extracurricular activities.
 
The photo enforcement will grow from 7 schools to every school in the city. 
 
The seven schools include Chaney High School, East High School, Kirkmere Elementary, Rayen Early College, Stambaugh Charter Academy, Valley Christian School, Volney Rogers, Woodrow Wilson School. 
 
 
If you hit a student or person in the school zone, or cause an accident expect police to investigate, with a possibility of criminal charges.