I would love to know what a certain politician was smoking when he saw the logic behind the new law that requires drivers to slow down to 30 km/hr in certain school zones when children are on the highway or within 30m of it. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for safety and I usually abide to the posted speed limit. However, I am also a fan of common sense and this new law promotes anything but.
Apparently 30 km/hr was chosen based on mortality statistics: children who are hit by a car driving at 30 km/hr have a higher chance of surviving than if the car was driving at 50 km/hr. Fair enough. However, in school districts where the surrounding speed limit is higher than 50, drivers must slow down to 50. So even though driving slower than 50 may save lives, in these districts, 50 is okay? Are these precious lives less valuable than those who are fortunate enough to be in a school zone where the surrounding speed limit is 50? The law should be consistent. Personally, I thought the old law where speed fines were double in school zones made a lot more sense. Furthermore, why is it a good idea for a driver to be looking around the road at night or when visibility is reduced to see if children are potentially present? It is well known that diverting your attention from the road causes accidents so this makes no sense either. There are several scenarios where it would be impossible to know if “children are present.”
A second reason why this law is vague is the failure to clearly define what is considered a child. I’m assuming this includes anyone under the age of 18. But do I always have to exercise my best judgment when I see some teenager walking down the street? The way some of these kids dress today, they could easily be mistaken as adults. Let’s hope they are carrying some ID, so there won’t be any dispute if you’re issued a ticket. What about a pregnant woman? Those pro lifers would argue that she is with child. Okay, now I am getting controversial. Let’s assume it only includes children out of the womb. What about a mother pushing a stroller down the sidewalk? Do I have to slow down to 30 km/hr for them too? Technically, the law would dictate yes but there is little reason for it in this situation. I think a better idea would be to teach these kids some lessons on common sense like looking both ways before you cross the street. Furthermore, if you are old enough to legally drive, I don’t think I should have to slow down for you either.
My final issue with this law is that it wasn’t implemented properly. The Statue in the MVA pertaining to this states that there needs to be clear signage warning drivers when they are entering and leaving school zones. However, I live in an area where there are three schools in a row and there is not one sign that says beginning or end of school zone. And there are no signs advising drivers to slow down to 30 km/hr either. If you got a ticket here, you would most definitely have a case for getting out of it.
It’s not hard to see that this law is a cash cow. If this was only enforced during school hours, that would be logical. But there is no rhyme or reason for having it in place 24/7 other than to increase the odds of generating revenue. —Adult with a Brain Present
This article appears in Sep 13-19, 2012.
Didn’t you already rant about this in the Herald???
I don’t agree it’s a stupid law for some of those reasons…
but I really shouldn’t have to either. Even just one of them tells you it’s a cash grab all the way.
“Are these precious lives less valuable than those who are fortunate enough to be in a school zone where the surrounding speed limit is 50?”
um, no… it’s just that going from 80 immediately down to 30 would cause more rear-ending then sebastian’s regular friday night.
The law is vague and should have been implemented clear cut.
Or, you know, you could just slow down to 30 km/h everytime regardless. That way, you’re removing the ambiguity of the law the way it is written currently, and you’ll ALWAYS be compliant, whether kids are present or not, so you won’t get fined. It’s a win-win.
Plus,for the size of a standard school zone, (2-3 blocks), slowing to 30 is going to add almost ZERO significant time to your daily drive.
New laws take time to implement and perfect. You should direct your aggression to this “smoking politician”, he probably doesn’t spend much time on this domain. He’s to busy “smoking something”. When the proper signage is posted you would probably be among the ranks of complaints about what a waste of money they are. This “smoking politician” could also be waiting for the cash grab to cover the costs of the signs. You also have no credibility in a road safety argument for saying “I usually abide to the posted speed limit”, if everyone did abide to current laws there would be no need for newer stricter ones. There is also no “statue” in the MVA. However there is one that appears on the cover of New York State’s MVA booklet.
Just effin slow down around schools. Thats simple.
Having seen some of the fat, stupid kids, 30 clicks would do a shitload of damage to any car.
slowing down should have ben mandatory for all school zones, not some. and i agree, that it will save a live, if you are driving slower there. a low speed impact is hardly ever fatal. whereas a higher rate, makes it more kife threatening to child. i would even go with 15 kph, while kids are around, and 20 when approaching when none are there.
we have to start drawing lines and making hard rules for the asshole driving nowadays.
I don’t have a problem with the 30 kmh rule provided that ALL schools will be removed from major traffic routes.
I’m gonna disagree with you there GV. That would cost the taxpayers a huge chunk of change and/or gut our already slim public education budget. But I agree with OP that it shouldn’t be enforced 24/7
Just slow down to 30 km/h around the schools Skippy. There, wasn’t that easy?
No evidence to support the 30 kmh limit. No statistics on kids in vehicle accidents adjacent to schools.
All emotion and cheap politics
I take emotion and cheap politics over dead kids and idiot speeders pretty much any day of the week.
Lets hope you slow down to 0 km/h if a child is on the highway.
Here’s what I find odd about this law… So it states that you have to slow down if a child is within 30m of school property, this sounds like a child could be playing in the front yard of their house across from the school and you could be ticketed if you don’t slow down.
O.B. the law makers found that it isn’t safe to slow down to 30 km/h if the limit is above 50 km/h, i agree with that. Imagine having to slow to 30 km/h in a 90 km/h zone.
If you had kids and lived on a busy highway wouldn’t you want motorists to slow down? Yeah you would. Makes more sense when you put yourself in someone else’s shoes. People drive way to fast anyhow everywhere. Everyone is in a big all out hurry to go nowhere. Get up your lazy ass out of bed half an hour earlier and you won’t mind slowing down.
Darwinism. A little population control is exactly what we need.