Illuminate school zones

Nobody wants to hit a child with their car. Most drivers slow down and become more alert when kids are playing close to the street, whether it’s by a park, in a school zone or anywhere else. The only time most drivers will go faster than 20 mph in a school zone is when there are no children or they are not adequately notified. Most drivers will obey the speed limit if they know what it is.

Fact: There are over 75,000 traffic signs in the city of Spokane. That’s a lot of reading for someone that is supposed to be driving, paying attention to other vehicles, stop lights and pedestrians. But there are only a few hundred flashing lights, and most people seem to notice them.

By putting up flashing lights in front of schools, which are activated when the reduced speed limit is in effect, drivers would know what is expected of them. Good drivers would slow down and the speeders would have no excuse.

Until something like that is done, law enforcement will continue to lose respect and lose voter support, schools will continue to lose support for its bonds and the city will continue its downward public relations spiral.

Edward M. Thompson

Spokane