Approaching a school zone during posted hours, what should you do?

Approaching a school zone during posted hours, what should you do?

• A. Disregard the reduced speed limit if traffic is heavy.
• B. Use your hazard lights while driving through.
• C. Speed up to maintain flow.
• D. Slow to the posted school zone speed and watch for children.

Answer: (D)

Approaching a school zone during posted hours requires slowing down to the posted school zone speed and staying alert for children who may suddenly step into the roadway. The reduced speed limit is put in place specifically to give drivers more time to react to kids who are crossing, walking near the street, or getting on and off buses. Even if traffic is heavy, you shouldn’t ignore the lower limit or try to “keep up” with the flow in a place where children may appear unexpectedly. Using hazard lights while driving through a school zone isn’t appropriate; hazard lights aren’t a substitute for careful driving and proper speed in this setting. Accelerating to maintain flow increases the risk of a serious crash. So the safest and most appropriate action is to slow to the posted school zone speed and watch for children and other school-related activity along the way.

Approaching a school zone during posted hours requires slowing down to the posted school zone speed and staying alert for children who may suddenly step into the roadway. The reduced speed limit is put in place specifically to give drivers more time to react to kids who are crossing, walking near the street, or getting on and off buses. Even if traffic is heavy, you shouldn’t ignore the lower limit or try to “keep up” with the flow in a place where children may appear unexpectedly. Using hazard lights while driving through a school zone isn’t appropriate; hazard lights aren’t a substitute for careful driving and proper speed in this setting. Accelerating to maintain flow increases the risk of a serious crash. So the safest and most appropriate action is to slow to the posted school zone speed and watch for children and other school-related activity along the way.