LETTER: Bring school speed zones up to date

To the editor:

It’s time for the counties, towns and school districts to ensure our student safety and driver school zone visibility. There are currently so many school zone speed limit markings that do not meet the over 10 year old state mandated requirements. These basic requirements can be briefly summed up:

1. A pre-warning sign is required which advises school zone ahead and indicates the speed which will need to take place.

2. The actual school zone speed limit sign which needs to include the times of enforcement or have active flashing lights.

3. An end of school zone sign.

4. Signs for one and two are highly visible green which have shape, content and size requirements.

5. A requirement that the school zone speed is not allowed to be less than 10 MPH below the currently posted normal speed. So if the currently posted speed is 35 then the school zone speed is not allowed to be posted at less than 25. This can be adjusted by lowering the posted normal speed limit with local governing.

There are many more facets that are in the NYS traffic law requirements regarding school speed zones but they are above the basics described. Things like overhead sign requirements, max length of school zone, etc.

I have on one occasion made personal contact with a local town supervisor. I was told that particular zone was on a road controlled by the county. The supervisor did indicate that they would contact the county. Months have passed and nothing has changed.

So the bottom line question is who’s going to champion the task to get every zone marked in accordance with the over 10 year old NYS traffic law requirements? I solicit all districts in NYS make it a requirement as part of their school safety check-off procedures to ensure zones in front of each of their schools get/are marked appropriately. Certainly a great topic for action at those inter-district meetings!

Our children and drivers deserve the best we can provide.