School zones require better communication

I respond to recent letters relating to speeding in school zones. The Friday letter “Drivers don’t take school zones seriously” from James K. Shackelford suggested increased enforcement. The May 26 letter from Claudine Eckhart pointed to a lack of respect for our laws.

To understand why drivers don’t always obey school-zone laws, we need to look at the Ohio statute governing school zones (ORC 4511.21). To the surprise of most motorists, the statute requires neither flashing lights nor end-ofschool-zone signage, nor the posting of hours that the school zone is active. Instead, the statute refers to vague and confusing opening and closing hours. A school’s active hours vary, making it impossible for drivers to know when active hours are in effect for a particular school.

We have come to rely on flashing lights, which, unfortunately, are not required under the present law. One doesn’t have to drive far to encounter a variety of schoolzone signage — “20 mph during restricted hours,” “20 mph when children are present,” “20 mph when students are present” and “20 mph when flashing.”

Drivers faced with a hodgepodge of signage are prompted into wrong decisions and pose a potential danger to our schoolchildren.

Contrast Ohio’s school-zone law with Florida’s. In Florida, either flashing lights or posting of active hours, as well as end-of-zone signage, are required.

Florida drivers know exactly what is expected; there is no