School Area Speed Limit and Signing
School speed limit sign at Diggs-Latham Elementary School in Winston-Salem, NC. Image provided by Mike Cynecki.
School flasher speed limit sign at Arrowhead Elementary School in Glendale, AZ. Image provided by Mike Cynecki.
School speed limit signs alert drivers that they are entering a school zone and they need to slow down for school children. The MUTCD provides guidance for installing school area speed limit signs in school zones at a specified distance from marked school crosswalks or a certain distance from the edge of school property. School speed limits vary based on state law and typically range from 15 to 25 mph. These devices are important but should not be overused. Excessive and unreasonable use may lead drivers to ignore the devices. Occasional police enforcement is also needed at these signs.
School flasher speed limit signs are sometimes used on busy streets, where they can help attract drivers’ attention to the school speed limit. School flasher speed limit signs that are activated only during school hours are probably more effective at drawing a driver’s attention compared to school flasher speed limit signs that flash throughout the day [Federal Highway Administration].