School Zone Speed Detection Systems

According to Children’s Safety Network, every year, an average of 67,124 child pedestrians are injured. 704 of those child pedestrians die. ALL children are pedestrians at some point. Between 2017-2020, 2,409 children and adolescents died from pedestrian injuries.

The Children’s Hospital Of Philadelphia, says young children are at a higher risk for pedestrian injury and death because they don’t understand traffic rules and risks. In addition, parents and caregivers often overestimate their children’s traffic knowledge and skills. The maturity level of children younger than 10 years makes them unable to correctly gauge the speed of vehicles putting them at greater risk for injury and death.

Speeding in School Zones? There’s No Excuse

Because children are unpredictable, there’s no excuse for speeding in school zones when we know children are present. Most school zones are 15 – 25  mph. Speed is a major factor in how serious a crash is and whether a pedestrian will live or die. For example, a pedestrian hit at 30mph is 50% more likely to die. Increasing your speed from 30 to 40 miles per hour can almost double the likelihood of death or serious injury in a crash, where only one in ten people will survive. 

States that Allow Speed Detection Systems

States that have recently opened up the use of speed cameras include Oregon, Florida and Connecticut, adding to the existing states that allow speed cameras. In 2020, Virginia (HB 1442, 2020) authorized state and local law enforcement agencies to operate speed cameras in school crossing zones.

The following existing states also allow speed photo enforcement:Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Virginia and Washington—and the District of Columbia operate speed cameras.