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THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT IN SCHOOL ZONES IS 20 MPH, AND VARIOUS TYPES OF SIGNS THAT INFORM DRIVERS OF THE SCHOOL-ZONE SPEED LIMIT ARE IN USE. THE STUDY DISCUSSED IN THIS FEATURE EXAMINES THE EFFECT OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF SCHOOL-ZONE SPEED-LIMIT SIGNS AND THE EFFECT OF DIFFERENT SPEED LIMITS ON THE ROADS APPROACHING THE SCHOOLS.
THE SCHOOL ZONE SAFETY ACT was passed by the 1996 Washington Legislature and directed the Washington Traffic Safety Commission (WTSC) to develop and implement programs to improve safety in school zones. In response to the School Zone Safety Act the WTSC initiated a study to measure vehicle speeds in school zones. The study was designed to answer two questions: 1) Do drivers slow down for children in school zones? and 2) What factors affect vehicle speeds in school zones during times of school-zone activity? The posted speed limit in school zones is 20 miles per hour (mph).
The data from an initial sample of 17 schools showed that just before the start of school almost half of the vehicles were measured at under 25 mph. However, more than 25 percent of the vehicles were exceeding 30 mph, and almost 9 percent were traveling at more than 15 mph over the posted speed limit of 20 mph. In the time period coinciding with school dismissal, about 50 percent of the vehicle speeds were under 25 mph. Again, more than a quarter exceeded 30 mph, and almost 10 percent were measured at 35 mph or faster.
The schools were grouped in various categories and analyzed for differences in vehicle speeds. City population, average daily traffic and the percent of students who rode school buses did not affect speed compliance. However, there appeared to be marked differences in vehicle speeds at schools with various types of school-zone speed limit signs, especially when the posted speed limit approaching the school was 35 mph.
These preliminary findings suggested that a substantial number of vehicles were traveling through school zones at excessive speeds and posed a risk to students walking to and from school. The data also suggested that the type of speed-limit sign and approach speed limit may be important factors. To examine more precisely the effects of these two variables, another 23 schools...