School zones are areas of reduced speed along a section of roadway in advance of, and proximate to, a school and/or school facilities. Focusing strategies for reducing child pedestrian crashes within school zones is an effective means of reducing injuries among children.
This paper explores several strategies that can be employed to improve pedestrian safety in school zones by reducing vehicle speed, increasing visibility, and reducing pedestrian exposure. The strategies for improving pedestrian safety in school zones discussed in this paper fall under the headings of engineering, school zone design, and enforcement in the form of speed cameras. The paper describes Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) proven safety countermeasures employed under the Every Day Counts (EDC) Safe Transportation for Every Pedestrian (STEP) innovative initiative and notes examples of implementation of these and other safety measures on New Jersey roads.
Read full report: Improving Safety in School Zones on State Highways