Details:

Creators:
Strawderman, Lesley ; Zhang, Li
Strawderman, Lesley ; Zhang, Li Less -
Corporate Creators:
Mississippi State University
Corporate Contributors:
United States. Federal Highway Administration
Subject/TRT Terms:
[+]
Behavior
Drivers
Law Enforcement
Schools
Speed Limits
Speed Signs
Speed Zones
Traffic Safety

Publication/ Report Number:
FHWA/MS-DOT-RD-13-253
Resource Type:
Tech Report
Geographical Coverage:
Mississippi
Corporate Publisher:
Mississippi. Dept. of Transportation
Abstract:
School zones are often viewed as an effective way to reduce driving speeds and thereby improve

safety near our nation’s schools. The effect of school zones on reducing driving speeds, however, is

minimal at best. Studies have shown that over 90% of drivers exceed speed limits posted in school

zones (Trinkaus, 1996; Trinkaus, 1998). Many drivers report that their lack of speed reduction was

based on the fact that they were unaware that they were in a school zone (Ash, 2006).

Researchers have investigated methods used to increase driver compliance for some time (McCoy,

Mohaddes, & Haden, 1981). Based on the results of empirical studies, effective methods include

increased enforcement (Dumbaugh & Frank, 2007), appropriate speed zone settings (Day, 2007;

McCoy & Heimann, 1990), visual placement of school buildings and play equipment (Clifton &

Kreamer-Fults, 2007), and speed monitoring devices (Ash, 2006; Lee et. al., 2006). In a recent study,

Kattan, et al., (2011) found that in the situation when there is 2-lane roads, roads with fencing, traffic

control devices and the presence of speed display device or children, and zones that were longer,

drivers’ mean speed was lower and the rate of compliance was higher.


Format:
PDF
Funding:
State Study 253
Collection(s):
US Transportation Collection
Main Document Checksum:
[+]
urn:sha256:c33d2a3a78b438b431972f1fecf6cb9bc07ea87be16add06190179176750f0a0
File Type:

Supporting Files

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