The School Zone
Ideally, the school zone starts at the front door and encompasses the campus and as many blocks as possible that surround the school and have a high concentration of school-generated traffic. Often the school zone includes the streets along the school and usually the area one to two blocks around it. The school zone should be marked with special signing to alert drivers of the high concentration of children. School crossing signs, speed signs, school zone pavement markings and other traffic calming devices remind drivers to treat the area with special care and attention.
The 2003 Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), Part 7 sets forth principles and standards for controlling traffic in school areas. These principles and standards provide information on appropriate design, application and maintenance of all traffic control devices (including signs, signals and markings) and other controls (including adult school crossing guards, student patrols and grade-separated crossings) required for the special pedestrian conditions in school areas.[1]
Properly designed and applied traffic calming devices encourage good driver and pedestrian behavior in the school zone. Traffic calming measures such as high visibility crosswalks, street narrowing and signage can be in place all the time. Since school zones are locations frequented by children, making the area safe for children anytime of day is a sound investment for the community.
Methods to address bicyclist and pedestrian safety within the school zone will be discussed in this section. The methods include:
- School Zone Signs and Pavement Markings.
- School Area Speed Limit and Signing.
- Portable Speed Limit Signs and Radar Speed Trailers.
- Changeable Message Signs and Speed Feedback Signs.
- School Advance Warning Signs and School Crosswalk Signs.
- Overhead Signs and Beacons.
- In-street Signing.
- Retroreflective Yellow-green School Signs and Post Covers.
- Curb Paint, Signs and School Pavement Legends.