As many students head back to school in Spokane on Tuesday, Sept. 6, the City reminds motorists to slow down in school zones and watch for pedestrians crossing streets.
Mayor Nadine Woodward has proclaimed September as Back-to-School Month and is partnering with the community on education and student safety.
“With the start of the school year, we’re asking motorists to be vigilant about safety on our streets,” Woodward said. “Heed the need to watch your speed.”
Most vehicle-pedestrian collisions occur in crosswalks, marked or unmarked. By following the rules of the road, most collisions can be prevented.
Motorists: The speed limit in school zones is 20 mph; residential streets 25; and arterial streets 30. Stop for pedestrians at crosswalks. All intersections are considered legal
crosswalks and should be treated as such whether marked or not.
Pedestrians: Cross the street on a “Walk” signal. If there isn’t a signal, look left, right, and left again before crossing at marked crosswalks or intersections.
The Spokane Police Department’s Traffic Unit will be out in force as school resumes.
Officers will watch for people not following the rules of the road and may issue a ticket. Tickets can run from $68 for not crossing the street at a crosswalk or intersection, to up to
$139 for a motorist failing to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk. Officers remind motorists about five fatal traffic violations:
DUI
Aggressive driving
Speed
Distracted driving
Not wearing a seatbelt
Additionally, photo speed cameras are in place at schools throughout the city.
Be extra diligent in your driving habits as the school year gets underway.
Free yellow and black “Neighbors Drive 25” signs reminding motorists of the speed limit on local access streets can be picked up at the nearest COPS (Community-Oriented
Policing Services) Shop or the MySpokane 311 counter at City Hall. The signs are funded by the City’s Traffic Calming Program.
The Traffic Calming Program emphasizes the “three Es” of traffic safety – Engineering, Enforcement, and Education. The Neighbors Drive 25 speed reduction campaign is an
education effort reminding drivers to reduce their speeds, especially in areas where children gather and play. For both vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-pedestrian crashes, the
likelihood of fatality increases as speed increases.
Original source can be found here.
