In the school zone

When the flashing lights turn on bright and early at University Elementary, there is no question about whether drivers should slow down.

Bright yellow blinking lights tell drivers that the school zone is currently in effect. But in other school zones around the area’s education edifices, some drivers aren’t sure what “When Children Are Present” means.

Jason Jones delivers pizzas for Buck’s Pizza, blocks from University High School, Chester Elementary and Horizon Middle School.

“I drive past University 20 to 25 times a day at least,” he said. “Some cars will drive 25, others will drive 35 or 45. It’s like nobody else knows what’s going on, either. ‘When children are present’ isn’t a very clear statement.”

But the rules are clearly set by state law for the five traffic officers working for the Spokane Valley Police, said traffic division Sgt. Brett Gores. Drivers should obey the lower speed limit when children are crossing the street, on the curb, or on the side of the road within the marked boundaries in a school zone, he said.

“It is defined clearly, but the problem becomes the public’s awareness of it,” Gores said. Usually there is at least one case each year when a student is hit by a car in a school zone, he said. To stay ahead of any trouble, his department is conducting a six-week emphasis patrol to make sure school zones are clearly and legally marked, and that drivers are following the law.

Gores said school zones are in effect only when kids are walking to and from school. Recess doesn’t count, and it doesn’t count when students are on the school grounds behind a fence.

But the safest bet for anyone unsure about the law is to drive slower past schools, he said.

“If you’re in an unfamiliar area and you approach a school zone, it’s more prudent to slow down to 20 miles per hour,” Gores said.

Confusion rises because state law allows for different ways to define school zones. Some have the “when children are present” rule. Others apply only when the area is flagged by crossing guards. Some are in effect only when lights are flashing, like at the new school crossing signs at University and Progress Elementary schools.

Those signs were paid for with grants, and they cost about $5,000 each, Gores said. They have timed lights that flash on for the beginning and end of school, and administrators can also turn the lights on and off for special events.

It would be nice to have flashing lights at every crosswalk, though it costs a great deal of money to install them, Gores said.

“We’ve only had one school-zone ticket in the week and a half that those new lights have been working,” Gores said.