Edison police kick off campaign to slow down Nat'l program focuses on enforcement and education for speeders BY TOM CAIAZZA Staff Writer EDISON - The township police department wants you to put on the brakes in residential neighborhoods. Armed with pamphlets, lawn signs and a $1,500 check from Target retail stores, the Edison police are kicking off their "Keep Kids Alive, Drive 25" campaign. Keep Kids Alive is a public awareness campaign bent on educating drivers on the dangers of speeding through residential neighborhoods, and minimizing the potential risk to children walking and playing on the streets and lawns of Edison Township. "Neighbors in particular neighborhoods are experiencing speeders," said Sgt. Robert Dudash, the departments press officer. Dudash said the campaign will target drivers who are sometimes unaware of the speed they travel through neighborhoods in Edison. "People lose sight of the fact that maybe their foot is a little too heavy on the pedal," Dudash said. One particular neighborhood, where the program will begin with a ceremonial handing of the check today, is the area surrounding Idlewild road. Dudash said that Idlewild is a common cut-through for people traveling on Route 27, moving south to reach Old Post Road, Vineyard and eventually Route 1. The area surrounding Idlewild road comprises single-family homes, many with children, and Lincoln Elementary School is on nearby Brookville Road. "We need to slow the traffic down," Dudash said. "This program is geared to educate people to that importance." The "Drive 25" campaign is a nationwide movement that Dudash said is more and more popular each year. The campaign includes the disemmination of lawn signs, pamphlets and the like to educate the public of the dangers of speeding. The campaign will coincide with increased enforcement in the targeted area, which Dudash said was Idlewild this week, but could be another street in another part of town next week. A police trailer with speed radar has already been stationed on Idlewild and patrolmen on bicycle will be going house to house giving out information and putting lawn signs on willing front lawns. Dudash said that Target's donation of $1,500 will serve as the startup costs for the signs, pamphlets, etc., that are needed to complete the program. The department will need to come up with other monies from then on, and Dudash said they will seek the help of private business, the township and any grants they can acquire. The police department will hold a ceremonial handing of the check on today at 1:30 p.m. at the Dr. William Toth Health Center on Idlewild Road.