Drivers urged to slow down EDISON- The township is reminding drivers in a variety of different ways to be more careful on streets where children are presents. The initiative, called Keep Kids Alive- Drive 25, is a 12-week effort led by the police to enforce speeding regulations as part of the administration's overall goal in calming traffic. This is the second year the township has undertaken the initiative, which was kicked off on March 25. Sgt. Robert Dudash, police public information officer, said that authorities have observed a marked decrease in speeding during these trafficcalming drives - and for a short time afterward as well. "Definitely, [we have] observed, through all of the presence involved, a marked decrease in speeders to those respective streets. It's difficult to gauge long-term, but on a short-term basis it showed a marked decrease," said Dudash. Based on a national program, the Keep KidsAlive- Drive 25 initiative uses a combination of education, public awareness campaigns and concentrated enforcement to encourage safer driving behavior. This year, the Father and Son American Legion Post 435 donated $2,500 toward the program, for which they were recognized on March 25. "Wewant to thank theAmerican Legion for their generous contribution to help promote this program, and we ask everyone in our community to promote traffic safety and to abide by our traffic laws," said EdisonMayor Jun Choi. Dudash said that each week, the program will concentrate on a different set of streets that have been the subject of speeding complaints. The program will be in effect for 12 weeks, with a tentative list of streets already compiled through the spring. The first set, he said, will be Stephenville Parkway and Warwick Road. The effortwill involve the use of speed trailers, which tell drivers how fast they are going, as well as increased enforcement along those roads. The public will be further informed through the use of a reverse 911 system, where people along the roads in question will be informed of police efforts and the importance of slowing down.Dudash said that officerswill also be going door to door again, to inform people of the program and to educate the public on the importance of not speeding. Officers will also ask residents if they would like to get involved by placing a small sign on their lawns reminding people to slow down. Choi said he was pleased with the program, saying itwould help in the overall efforts to calm traffic in town. "It's basically another location for us to do the traffic calming. It'smore broadening or implanting the program throughout our community," Choi said. - Chris Gaetano