clarify school zone for me

[look 171]

Drove my friend and his new girl friend to lunch today. Going pass this Jr school school that sat right off a big Blvd. at 40 (speed limit is 35) many times and have never slow down (no one does) to 25. She screams, slow down, there's a school here. Are you crazy? I kept on going even though I felt like btich slapping her. The typical sign reads "When children are present". Does that mean when kids are out the speed limit is 25? This was 11am, so no kids were outside any of the buildings, big fence surrounds the campus and I did not see any kids playing in the yard. I do know school is in session. Maybe I am wrong here? How about saturdays when people jump the fence to play basketball in the yard? slow down for them too? Tell me, tell me

[look 171]

If this was 8 am, or 3 pm, I slow down, but at 11am? No other drivers slow down neither.

[slodave]

I believe it means to slow down when you see kids, entering the school in the morning or leaving at the end of the day. School is not in session on the weekends..

[look 171]

Dave, I agree with you on that one but nor entirely sure what the law reads

[slodave]

From the DMV handbook...
"Around Children

When driving within 500 to 1,000 feet of a school while children are outside or crossing the street, the speed limit is 25 mph unless otherwise posted. Also, if the school grounds have no fence and children are outside, never drive faster than 25 mph. Some school zones may have speed limits as low as 15 mph. Always drive more carefully near schools, playgrounds, parks, and residential areas because children may suddenly dart into the street. Also, many children have not yet developed the ability to judge speeds and distances well enough to cross streets safely when cars are moving fast."

[mikesride]

Here you must slow to the posted school zone speed no matter what time of day or year. Maybe its because kids still use the playground equipment all year long and after school hours. Maybe its because the traffic board wants everyone to automatically slow down like it second nature in a school zone.

[osidak]

All the school zone signs around here that lower the limit will either have a posted time that they are in effect or will have flashing lights when they are in effect.

The ones that drive me nuts are the people that do not know that you don't stop for a school bus when approaching it on a divided highway.

[ckelly78z]

We have flashing lights activated when the 20-25 MPH zone is in effect.

[stomachmonkey]

Flashing lights around here when the zone is active.

Our Middle and Elementary Schools are on adjacent properties and share driveways, parking lots etc...

Drop off for the Middle School requires using the lanes that go behind and around the Elementary school.

It amazes me the number of people who speed in the lane as if the school zone limit no longer applies because they are now on a "different road".

If you ever want to witness the depravity and social decline of man go through a couple of school drop off lines.

[recycled sixtie]

If you have witnessed how fast a child or adult running out of nowhere and crossing the road at great speed and nearly be hit then I think you would think differently.

If you had a child in that school would you want drivers to slow down or drive fast?

Guy.

[Oh Haha]

Our school zones are designated with "school zone" signage as well as flashing lights during morning and afternoon for unloading/loading of the students. The limit on the main 4 lane road is 35 mph except during those times when it is 25 mph.

Our local LEO will rotate monitoring those zones between the schools. I have talked to the officer a few times when dropping my kids off and he tells me he will usually pull over at least 1 driver every day for speeding.


We have crossing guards in place as well as some kids walk and need to cross the main road.

[island911]

school zones are designed to slow everyone else down to the speed of the drive-by pedophiles.

[gacook]

On the military installation I work on, school zones are 15 mph all day long if school is in session. Downtown, it's only during the morning and afternoon.

[HardDrive]

Ours are time limited in our city from 7:30am to 4pm, but most people ignore it during the middle of the day.

[cstreit]

Hmm... I just use common sense. If I see any kids around, I slow down to 25, otherwise I still keep it below 35 if they are local streets.

[DonDavis]

Don't get me started...
This is so easy, yet folks want to argue nit picks.
While driving a vehicle and approaching a school, there are plenty of signs.
Do what they say, when they say.
If in doubt, slow down a little anyway.

[vash]

I drive super slow thru any school zone. Allows me to send and read my text easier.

[John Rogers]

I think this link explains it exactly: https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/?1dmy&urile=wcmath:/dmv_content_en/dmv/pubs/vctop/vc/d11/c7/a1/22358.4

Seems to be a lot of officer decision on this stuff, especially in CA. I like the way AZ does it with their school signs that have a flashing light that signals when the lower speed is in effect. There is one on the road that leads to the PIR speedway and every year HSR would have a race there you would always see race transporters or out of state pickups pulled over on the Friday when getting to the track!

[Shifter]

Seems like the less time you spend in a school zone the less likely there will be an incident.
So if a person is going through the zone at 25, it may take them five minutes, putting everyone at risk. Better to go through at 80, therefore minimizing the time spent in the zone, and reducing risk!

[Z-man]

Originally Posted by recycled sixtie

If you have witnessed how fast a child or adult running out of nowhere and crossing the road at great speed and nearly be hit then I think you would think differently.

If you had a child in that school would you want drivers to slow down or drive fast?

Guy.

This.