Students are headed back to their classrooms! Help keep our kids safe by driving the speed limit, obeying signs and preparing for increased foot traffic along our sidewalks and streets.
Driving in a School Zone:
According to Washington State’s School Zone Laws (RCW 46.61.440), vehicles should not exceed 20 mph when passing any marked school or playground crosswalks. The speed zone extends 300 feet in either direction from the marked crosswalk.
The Was
hington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) states that pedestrians or bicyclists have an estimated 95% survival rate if hit by a vehicle at 20 mph. At 30 mph, the chance of walking away without injury is only 5% and the death rate jumps to 45%.
Any infractions relating to speed restrictions within a school zone will increase the monetary penalty by double.
Crosswalk Safety:
Washington state’s crosswalk law is simple: stop for pedestrians in the crosswalk. Drivers are required to stop when a pedestrian is waiting at the curb to cross the street.
Most people are unaware that every
intersection contains a crosswalk, whether marked or unmarked. Crossing the street at an intersection, even without the aid of crosswalk striping on the pavement, is perfectly legal.
It’s critically important that everyone understand this basic rule of the road to keep pedestrians—including students, seniors and transit riders—safe. Please wait until the crosswalk is entirely clear before you continue moving.
School Bus Etiquette:
To prevent injury among children who use the school bus, state law outlines strict guidelines for drivers. When a school bus stops, all drivers on both sides of the road must stop as well. This allows for all children to board and leave the bus safely.
When a driver 
is traveling in the opposite direction of a school bus on a divided roadway, he or she does not have to stop. Only vehicles driving in the same direction as the bus must stop. Additionally, this law does not apply on a highway.
If you know your route to work passes school bus stops, make sure to allot extra time for your commute or plan to leave earlier.
Above all, slow down and exercise extreme caution when driving to keep our kids safe!
