In-street Signing
An in-street crosswalk sign can add visibility to the crosswalk and reinforce the state law requirement for drivers to yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk.
In-street signs are plastic signs placed in the roadway to communicate variations of the basic message YIELD TO PEDESTRIANS or STOP FOR PEDESTRIANS in the crosswalk. In-street signs are becoming very popular in some locations, but state laws vary on their allowed use. In-street signs can be permanently installed in the roadway or mounted on a portable base to allow them to be taken in and out of the street during the school day. They are most effective when used at school crossings during school commute times only. They are more effective on unsignalized, two-lane, low-speed streets than on multi-lane, high-speed streets. They can be easily damaged and need to be reset or replaced when struck. Placing signs on medians may prevent this damage from occurring and thus may be more effective than the in-street placement. These signs should be placed in advance of the crosswalk rather than in the crosswalk, thus making drivers aware of their responsibility before they are actually at the crosswalk. When portable in-street signs are used for school crossings, they should be monitored by a school official or adult school crossing guard.
Putting It Into Practice: 15 MPH School Zones
Arizona
Arizona has been using 15 mph School Zone crossings for elementary and middle schools since 1950 when the Legislature passed State law ARS 28-797 allowing for the uniform application of these special reduced speed zones. School zones are operated by the schools and are established with roll-out 15 MPH speed limit signs and portable STOP WHEN CHILDREN IN CROSSWALK signs during student arrival and dismissal times. Their use is limited to crossings where there is not the benefit of a traffic signal or STOP sign at the crossing. The law requires an engineering study before establishing the 15 mph school zone and the school must sign a written agreement with the local traffic authority to operate the zone. These special crosswalks are marked with yellow lines and the portable signs are typically allowed in the street 45 minutes prior to the start of school and 30 minutes after school dismissal. The 15 mph school zone portable signs are typically removed from the street during non-crossing times, but are allowed in the street during the entire school day if the crossing is abutting the school grounds. The law also strictly prohibits passing on the approach to the crossing, and the 15 mph speed limit extends from the advance 15 MPH SCHOOL IN SESSION portable sign through the crosswalk. Fifteen MPH School Zones cannot be used within 600 feet of a traffic signal, STOP sign or another 15 mph School Zone crossing.