In 1950, Phoenix, Arizona, was the first city in the country to establish 15 mph zones around schools. While these have been effective in reducing the number of pedestrian / vehicle accidents in some schools, with more than 450 schools in the Phoenix metropolitan area and more than 1,700 school-related crosswalks, it is simply not possible to slow down our steady pace. . increasing the population to 15 mph in each school.
Arizona and the cities of the state constantly analyze the problems related to improving safety in an environment of increasing population and traffic. What is the point? To try to get more children to walk and bike to and from school. Why should we encourage children to walk to and from school? There are three basic reasons:
- Walking and biking are healthier
- Less traffic means less congestion around schools
- Less driving reduces emissions pollution
Helping our young pedestrians stay safe from traffic incidents while going to and from school is a multifaceted endeavor, which some in Phoenix call the “3Es”:
Engineering : crosswalks, signs, sidewalk improvements, bike lanes
Education : Students and drivers learn about safety, and walking and biking is recommended.
Application : photographic radar, police presence
Maricopa County participates in the Safe Routes to Schools program. This program involves parents, children, community members, school personnel, traffic engineers, city planners, law enforcement officers, community leaders, and many others.
City and state engineers, school administrators, and parents continue to search for the best pedestrian safety solutions for children. Drivers in Arizona, and especially in congested areas like the Phoenix metro, are likely to experience a variety of speed control measures, including but not limited to:
- school zones that are 35 mph 24/7
- school zones that are 35 mph during specific hours / days
- school zones that are 35 mph when lights are flashing
- red light cameras in select schools
- 15 mph speed limit signs that are manually posted during school hours (a school crossing guard may be present)
- Speed warning signs that tell you how fast you are driving through the school zone
- wider and longer sidewalks
- most obvious painting of crosswalks
- Active feedback speed signals from the driver with a SLOW NOW message
- yellow green fluorescent school warning signs
- Larger student waiting areas and ‘backup’ lines at crossings
- vans with photo speed camera to provide mobile app
- pavement stencils that put the word “SCHOOL” on the street
- flashing pedestrian crossing lights on the pavement, known as the intermittent pedestrian crossing
- staggered crossings that force pedestrians to look into oncoming traffic
- pedestrian safety islands
It appears that we will continue to implement whatever mechanism is available to us to get drivers to pay attention and slow down around all pedestrians, especially our children. Perhaps walking to school can once again be the norm, rather than the exception.
It is common in the Phoenix metropolitan area to find 15 mph zones near elementary school crosswalks. Sometimes a crossing guard will be present to remind you to slow down or stop if there are children in or near the crosswalk.
Arizona’s 15 mph zones are zero tolerance zones. That means you can (and will probably get) a date if you get caught going even a few miles over 15 mph. Generally, law enforcement is most aggressive during late July through August, when school begins in most of the Valley of the Sun. Violating a school zone speed limit can be costly. The fine is over $ 100 and you will earn points on your license. May be eligible for defensive driving school.
15 mph school zone tips
Here are some things you might not know about 15 mph school zones:
- If anyone is in the crosswalk in the school zone, they must be completely out of the crosswalk before any vehicle can move in either direction.
- You are not allowed to pass in a 15 mph zone, no matter how slow another vehicle may be traveling. Passing does not mean moving around the vehicle. Failure means your bumper cannot pass the bumper of any other car going in the same direction.
- There is zero tolerance in a 15 mph zone. It is never reasonable or prudent to go faster in a school zone. It can be cited for going 16 mph in a 15 mph zone.
- Once you have driven completely past the last school intersection, you can resume normal speed for that street.
