How to Improve Student Safety With School Zone and Safety Road Signs
School zone and safety road signs help keep kids safe. These signs alert drivers they are entering a school zone which has lots of potential for danger. The signs further help to control traffic during busy times of the day and keep speeds low in school zones. They also let staff, parents and others know where it is safe to park or where kids will get on or off of the bus. All together, school zones and safety road signs help reduce the number of collisions and other accidents on school campuses.
Some common road signs around schools in the United Kingdom include the School Crossing Patrol sign that warns drivers to look out for and get ready to adhere to the direction of the patrol person. The warning sign informs drivers that pedestrians might be in the road ahead, and speed limit signs remind the driver to slow down to a safe, maximum driving speed.
In and around school zones, you might also see signs that mark out routes for pedal cycles and pedestrians. Of course, there will be places that mark specified areas for loading and unloading the school bus. And, around some primary schools, you might see school playground signs that prompt drivers to slow down and keep an eye out for children playing.
Importance of Road Signs Near Schools for Safety
School parking lots and surrounding areas can be hectic, especially at drop-off/dismissal time when cars, bicyclists, buses, and pedestrians all share the road. For this reason, road signs are vital to school safety. School road signs remind drivers of traffic rules and point out places in the school zone where drivers need to be on high alert such as near crosswalks, playgrounds and busing zones. We all know that kids can be unpredictable.They might run out in the street or suddenly dart in front of a car to catch their bus. Paying close attention to road school signs can ensure that the kids are safe, especially during the most congested times of the day.
With many kids being transported to school by car, parking while waiting for the kids can be a major problem. Consequently, parking signs are important for school parking lot safety. They let parents know where it is safe to park in order to minimize the risk of an accident. This includes a sign that warns that parking in a school bus zone is prohibited. It is also important to note that there might be spaces designated for staff such as the Headteacher or Headmaster. Although parking in these spaces might not be a criminal infraction, it could be a civil infraction which could result in a costly fine.
In addition to parking signs, pavement markings help to monitor traffic and parking in school zones. For example, parking within yellow zig-zag lines is prohibited. The words “School Keep Clear” might also be printed somewhere.
Common Use of Metal Road Signs in School Zones
A governmental entity typically manages road safety signage such as the National Highways in England or the Scottish Government in Scotland. However, some school districts might elect to place more safety signs around the school zone such as ones that improve playground safety.
For durability, traffic and road signs are made of steel. This is because steel can withstand high winds, rain, snow, and sleet, and is both rust and corrosion resistant. These metal road signs are placed around the school zone and mounted on poles where drivers can more easily see them. The more common areas for placement are near a crosswalk, playground, bus stop, or cyclist path.
Types of School-Related Road Signs
Common signs near schools: speed limits, warnings, pedestrian crossings
School-related road signs are all about campus safety. They instruct, warn, direct, and encourage drivers to drive responsibly in order to keep kids safe going to and from school. One example is the speed limit sign. Although the speed limit in school zones is often 20 mph, in the UK, local municipalities can set different speed limits for school zones. For example, some city councils might choose a speed limit of 5 mph while others might set a limit of 15 mph in school zones.
Warning road signs around schools are just as important because they serve as an alarm. They “wake up” the driver to make them aware of possible dangers like kids playing in the parking lot or teens being distracted while walking and texting. One of the biggest dangers is that elementary age children are tiny and have difficulty seeing cars and being seen by drivers.
There are also signs that tell students where it is most safe to cross the street. Because many students ride their bicycles to school, there are often marked paths for cyclists to use. These paths are safer because they are for bikes only. Occasionally, there is a bicycle and pedestrian route near the school that separates at a point. These are safe for kids that are riding their bikes or walking to school.
Role of flashing lights in school zones
The flashing light is an extra safety precaution. They are placed on streets that connect to a school zone. Flashing lights are traffic control signals used to alert drivers that it is either arrival or dismissal time for students. Thus, the driver should then slow down. They can also expect a change in the speed limit and should become more aware of other signs like ones that note a pickup or drop-off spot for students.
In addition to metal road signs and flashing lights, school crossing patrol officers, affectionately known as lollipop men and women, are used to keep kids safe going to and from school. These patrol officers are placed at busy intersections to see to it that kids get across the street safely. They stand in the middle of the road and use a hand-held paddle that tells the driver to “stop” so that the kids can safely get to the other side of the road.
Design and Placement of School Road Signs
Guidelines for proper placement around schools
First, is the road sign that lets the driver know they are entering a school zone. A school zone is a specific geographical area around a school. It is a designated area that is governed by certain traffic rules and guidelines that are established for student safety. The school zone sign is displayed on streets that are a couple of blocks from the school. Other signs like the speed limit sign are often placed below the school zone sign or above the school zone’s flashing light. This gives the driver adequate warning to slow the car down.
Other school-related road signs like the pedestrian crossing and bus loading sign further alert the driver to a danger zone. These signs are placed close to the specified area where the children cross or the bus parks.
Ensuring visibility and compliance with legal requirements
All school road signs are bright and easy to see. One example is the school zone sign which is fluorescent yellow. The school patrol sign is also fluorescent yellow with red trim. In the United Kingdom, schools are encouraged to develop a comprehensive traffic plan which should include safety road signs. These signs are to be prominently displayed to keep the student body safe.
According to the law, metal road signs must be a certain size, shape and color. For example, warning signs are red triangles. Road signs that tell you what you shouldn’t do are round with red trim. If a road sign tells you how to get somewhere, it will be rectangular and either green or white. For help to navigate the road, a blue and white circular sign is used. Of course, there are highly recognizable signs like the Stop sign which is red and an octagonal shape.
Safety Measures for Drivers and Students
How drivers should respond to school road signs
Drivers and student drivers should be familiar with the Highway Code of the UK. It is a guide and a set of rules for safe and responsible driving in the countries of the United Kingdom. Specifically, as it pertains to school road signs, new drivers should study Highway Codes 208, 209 & 210 which tells you how to respond to school road signs.
In summary, you should slow down and drive more cautiously when you enter a school zone. The school zone sign means that kids might be nearby and you’re about to enter a space where little ones will be all around. Therefore, you should keep your eyes open for kids that might make sudden moves. When you’re near the school, it is important to note that the law requires that you adhere to the speed limits and obey the school crossing patrols, even if you don’t see kids waiting to cross. School buses are also equipped with a stop sign. When the stop sign is displayed, traffic must stop on both sides of the street. This too is the law.
Educating children about road safety
There are many opportunities throughout the day to educate your children about road safety. Because many accidents are preventable, teaching kids the basics of road safety is vitally important. When talking with kids about road safety, here are a few topics that you should cover:
● Be alert and follow the rules of the crosswalk or school crossing patrol.
● Where to cross the street, find a safe place.
● Stop, look both ways and listen before crossing the road.
● Don’t stand on the edge of the sidewalk because people sometimes drive over the curb.
● If possible, always walk on the sidewalk.
● Teach kids the meaning of school safety road signs such as pedestrian crosswalks.
● The importance of adult supervision when walking or crossing the street (for younger kids).
Both inside and outside of the school zone, kids should have a healthy respect for vehicles and the importance of driving responsibly. Build on that concept with an age-appropriate lesson on understanding driving rules and traffic laws like speed limits, stop signs and the traffic light.
Conclusion: The Role of Road Signs in School Safety
Establishing school zones is essential to keeping kids safe. As important are the road signs that are used to instruct, direct and warn drivers to be extra-cautious in this geographical area. School road signs are just as important to the staff and parents as they identify safe places for kids to cross the street or get on the bus. They might also point the kids in the right direction for safe passage home on a pedestrian or bike route. School road signs are permanent signs that are always there to manage the traffic in school zones. The goal of these signs is to keep the vehicle speeds low and the traffic flowing without incident or delays. When schools properly use road signs in school safety, they can greatly reduce accidents and protect students.
