On behalf of the Geneva Police Department, I hope you enjoyed your summer. Time seems to have absolutely flown by. It is hard to believe, but the 2025-26 school year begins on Thursday, Aug. 21.

Given there will be a great deal of activity surrounding all of our school facilities, this is a good time for some friendly reminders regarding school-related traffic safety.

Please remember that you are required to stop for a school bus if the red flashing lights and stop signs are activated. The Illinois State Board of Education’s bus safety brochure is a helpful resource for what motorists should know when approaching a school bus.

If you are driving through an identified school zone, the speed limit is 20 mph on school days when children are present. This speed limit is in place for the safety of our children and school crossing guards. In addition, the vast majority of our school buildings are located within residential neighborhoods. The speed limit on all City streets, unless otherwise posted, is 25 mph. Speeding in residential areas is one of the most common concerns expressed to us by our residents.

Please follow the directions of the school crossing guards, who are responsible for students being able to safely cross the roadways. Each school year, we receive reports of motorists disregarding the school crossing guards or speeding through the school crossings. Please slow down in school zones. The extra few minutes that you might save are not worth compromising the safety of our students and crossing guards.

Last, but not least, please remember it is illegal in Illinois to text or talk on a cell phone while driving, unless it is a hands-free operation. This law is designed to ensure motorists have all of their attention focused on the task of driving.

I sincerely hope these basic reminders help keep us all safe during our daily travels. The Geneva Police Department will have a regular and visible presence around all of our school buildings each and every day. We hope these efforts will enhance the safety of our students, parents, school staff, school crossing guards, and motorists.

Thank you for taking the time to read and please stay safe Geneva.

Eric Passarelli

Police Chief