There are many options to help make routes to school safer; the challenge is to determine which combination best meets your needs.
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Driver Feedback Signs
DFS in action(video), DFS Overview (video)
Slowing traffic by as little as one mile-per-hour can reduce accidents by as much as five percent. This fact caused the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to state that "changeable message signs displaying actual speeds of approaching drivers have been widely used...to enhance driver compliance with speed limits." (Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, 11/2003)
Encourage Speed Compliance
- Dynamic system provides real-time feedback to approaching drivers
- Commands attention with high-visibility fluorescent yellow-green pixels
- Accomodates many different uses and locations
- Operates in all weather conditions
- Logs speed data for before/after substantiation
- Helps improve safety where children share the road with motorized vehicles
Maintain Effectiveness
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- Provides high visibility with fluorescent yellow-green pixels
- Produces dependable, fail-safe performance with long term durability
- Operates in all weather conditions
- Continues to influence speed compliance over time
- Alerts drivers while helping to protect children
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Permanent Signs
Traffic signing returns more than $24 for every dollar spent*, representing a highly coste-effective way to improve traffic safety.
Brighter Signs for Optimum Visibility (3M™ Diamond Grade™ DG3 Reflective Sheeting)
- Enhance positive guidance for clear driver response
- Provide full cube technology with 100% efficient optics that return about 60% of available light
- Achieve double the efficiency of traditional cube corner technology
- Deploy high performance signs that can help reduce crashes 25% - 48% at a better than 10:1 cost-benefit ratio (Ripley, 2004 ITE Annual Meeting Proceedings)
Superb Visibility Day and Night (Fluorescent Yellow Green Sheeting)
Since federal approval in 1998 for use as warning signs, fluorescent yellow-green sheeting has given roadway authorities a superior method to increase awareness in school zones and safety improvement with high impact at low cost.
- Fluorescent retroreflective sheetings can be seen up to 40% farther away than standard yellow colors
- Reduces conflicts between motorists and pedestrians or bicyclists an average of 60%
- Durable color with brightness for the life of the sign
- Effective day, night, dawn, dusk and in inclement weather (better visibility 24 hours a day)
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Portable Signs
Flexible, mobile, attention-getting devices offer cost-effective temporary
solutions where children must contend with traffic.
Selection and Flexibility
There is a large selection of portable signs and devices that can be distributed and moved to enhance awareness as well as alert both drivers and pedestrians to traffic conditions. Some of the more common portable devices include:
- Stop signs
- Do Not Enter signs
- Speed Limit signs
- Informational signs
- Directional signs
- Brightly colored bollards to call attention to parking lot posts
- Cones and standards
- School crossing signs
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Pavement Markings
Retroreflective pavement markings attract attention and provide positive guidance for greater safety on the road.
Crosswalks and Symbols Provide Positive Guidance
Crosswalks and symbols made from high performance pavement marking materials provide guidance for pedestrians and raise awareness about school and crossing zones. 3M™ Stamark™ High Performance Wet Reflective Tape offers durability and all weather performance. The solution:
- Provides high visibility—day and night, wet or dry
- Promotes positive guidance for better crossing decisions
- Identifies and alerts traffic to crosswalks
- Encourages motorists to slow at marked crossings
- Offers ease of application with warranted performance
- Has a patterned, skid-resistant surface that is beneficial to pedestrians and bicyclists, with uniform thickness and brightness
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Flashers
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Traditional "wig-wag" flashing beacons alert drivers when school zones are active and help draw attention to posted speeds.
Unambiguous Alerts
- Provides recognizable and attention-getting warning
- Calls attention to active school zones and to the presence of children
- Works in combination with other devices for active feedback and a
positive driver response
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Speed Humps
Studies indicate that children living on blocks with speed bumps have a sharply lower chance of being injured or killed by motorists.
Slow Down Neighborhood Traffic
- Reduces the risk of children being struck or injured by 53% - 60%
- Effectively slows traffic and reduces crashes
- Helps quiet traffic noise
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Temporary Diverters
Different devices may be used in combination to provide alerts and positive
guidance for added traffic safety.
Increase Control in Traffic Area
Temporary traffic control devices offer a spectrum of methods to generate
a safer environment for children walking and bicycling to school.
- Retroreflective cones, drums, and channelizing devices
- Temporary raised islands, opposing lane dividers and other elements
with pavement markings
- Screens, barricades, flashers and signs to warn and guide
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Bicycle Facilities
Children are encouraged to bicycle to school for exercise and as an alternative
to traveling by school bus.
Manage Bicycle/Vehicle Conflicts
Signs, marking and signals can be used in many combinations to manage bicycle operation and motorized traffic. Devices and applications provide information, positive guidance and alerts for everyone on the road.
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Curbs and Dividers
Clearly mark and separate walking areas from driving lanes.
Alert and Protect Street Users
Physical elements such as curbs and dividers are enhanced by reflective markings and signs. There are many choices to consider.
- Provide raised curbs, islands and grade-separated crossings
- Separate traffic uses with physical dividers and delineators
- Incorporate street features to dimensionally indicate traffic areas
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Sidewalks
New, widened or repaired sidewalks offer permanent improvements and enhance pedestrian safety.
Enhance Sidewalk Infrastructure
Sidewalks are an important consideration as a method to improve safety and ease of movement. Permanent sidewalks:
- Encourage pedestrian pathways
- Clearly separate walking from driving traffic
- Allow for enhancements such as pavements markings and signs
- Provide a more even and level walking surface
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Reflective Materials
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Retroreflective materials on clothing, carry items and bicycles improve visibility for better traffic safety.
Be Seen, Be Safe
The use of reflective materials to make children more visible themselves is vital for a comprehensive program for Safe Routes to School. This can be part of an awareness campaign so tha parents and guardians make retroreflective materials part of their clothing decision.
- Maximize the child's visibility to motorists under all weather conditions and times of day
- Provide retroreflective materials and reflectors on bicycles, skateboards and other non-motorized conveyances
- Encourage standards of retroreflectivity and conspicuity such as minimum 12 square inches of reflective material on jackets, raincoats, backpacks and lunchboxes
Protect Crossing Guards
School crossing guards equipped with reflective vests, caps, gloves and flags capture the attention of drivers and children to produce a safer situation at crosswalks. Encourage a high standard for retroreflectivity and conspicuity so crossing guards "stand out" in all weather conditions at any time of day.
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Signal Enhancements
Three out of four pedestrian deaths occur on city streets* yet relatively simple engineering solutions can help address urban crashes.
Upgrade Capabilities
Adjustments and enhancements can also improve safety at signalized intersections. This is a complex set of possibilities that include, for example:
- Protected walk times (adjusting leading interval to allow pedestrians to enter crosswalk ahead of turning vehicles)
- Pavement markings such as "SLOW," particularly on curves
- Pedestrian activation (to recognize people are present, waiting to cross)
- Pedestrian crossing count-down (that counts down the amount of time remaining for a protected crossing)
- Improved signal timing to reduce vehicle stops and provide adequate signal clearance intervals (yellow light plus brief red in all directions)
- Improved roadway illumination
- Skid-resistant pavement
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Awareness and Enforcement
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A major factor in school zone safety is making drivers and children attentive and aware of each other in traffic.
Think School Zone Safety
A portion (10% - 30%) of SRTS funds is to be used for education and enforcement. Factor this into your plan with non-infrastructure activities such as:
- Parent-teacher awareness campaigns
- Neighborhood association education
- Templates designing or auditing safety zones
- Methods to engage organizations and groups to support and raise awareness for school zone safety
Maximize Enforcement Resources
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Look for opportunities to maximize resources by using enforcement more productively and selectively. Consider applying SRTS education/enforcement funds to hire off-duty police officers for greater presence at vital positions during key times.
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