CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – After seeing a drop in speeding of over 40% after installing speed cameras near Albemarle County High School, the county is expanding that program by adding cameras at Western Albemarle in Crozet, it announced Wednesday.

“We’ve seen firsthand how effective this program can be in changing driver behavior,” said Captain Jason Marden with the Albemarle County Police Department’s Special Operations Division in a statement released by the county. “Reducing speeds in our school zones is a simple but powerful way to protect children traveling to and from school in our community.”

Starting next month, automated speed enforcement cameras will be in use on Rockfish Gap Turnpike (U.S. 250) adjacent to Western Albemarle, Henley Middle School and Brownsville Elementary. They are designed to detect and cite cars that travel 10 mph or more over the speed limit.

Last school year, after cameras were installed at the county’s Lambs Lane campus (Albemarle High School, Journey Middle School, and Greer Elementary School), the county reported a 49% decrease in speeding events on the northbound side and a 42% decrease on the southbound side.

The county is also adding cameras to four of its school bus stop arms, busses that run on routes where traffic laws regarding stopping for school busses are often ignored.

“Our school bus drivers witness dangerous and illegal passing on their routes nearly every day. Adding stop arm cameras will help hold drivers accountable. We’re grateful for our partnership with the Albemarle County Police Department and their continued support in keeping our students safe on their way to and from school,” Jamie Gellner, Director of Transportation for ACPS, said in a statement.