Sean C. Morgan
Beginning July 1, many school zones will be in effect all the time, effectively creating a 20 mph speed limit permanently in those zones.
The new law specifies speed and signing requirements in two areas, school zones adjacent to schools and school crossing zones away from school property.
The law also distinguishes between roadways where speed limits are 30 mph or less and those that are 35 mph or greater.
School zones adjacent to schools on roads with a posted limit of 30 mph or less will be 20 mph all the time under the new law. The limit applies all day every day throughout the year.
?That means that the speed limit will be 20 mph at all times, early morning, on weekends, on holidays,? Oregon Department of Transportation Traffic Services Engineer Doug Bish said. ?The new rules may be difficult for motorists to memorize, so they need to watch carefully for the new signs. The best way to avoid a ticket is to obey whatever the signs say.?
In school zones on roads where the posted speed is 35 mph or higher, times of the 20 mph speed limit will be defined by one of two options. Signs will be posted for specific hours, or flashing lights will signal when the 20 mph speed limit is in effect.
Three options are available for crosswalks not adjacent to school grounds. The reduced speed limit will be in force when lights are flashing, when children are present or during posted hours.
The change is the result of Senate Bill 179 passed by the Oregon Legislature last year in an attempt to clear up confusion about what constitutes a school zone and when speed limits are reduced.
?Legislators wanted to eliminate any indecision about when drivers needed to slow down,? ODOT Transportation Safety Division Administrator Troy E. Costales said. ?Schools and school grounds get used more than during class times. The law isn?t about protecting property. It?s about protecting kids.?
Also changing is the rule about violation of the basic rule. Inside all city limits, posted speed limits will become exactly that, speed limits, Police Chief Bob Burford said. The basic rule applies through June 30.
The school zone change and the change with speed limits in general ?takes all of the ambiguity out of the law,? Chief Burford said. ?What it will mean is there will be no excuses for the person driving 30 mph in a 20 mph school zone.?
The old law was ambiguous regarding the definition of when ?children were present,? Chief Burford said. ?There?s been several attempts to make this law clearer and easier to understand. They?ve said, really, forget about when children are present. Really what they?ve said is school zones are 20 mph period.?
For more information about the school zone speed limit changes, persons may visit http://www.odot.state.or.us/traffic/school/school.htm.