Changes to School Zones Pose Public Safety Risks

On January 25, 2023, Associate Policy Director Sarah Sample testified before the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee in opposition to SB 0011 – Motor Vehicles – Speed Limits – School Zones.

This bill alters the radius around schools—from a half-mile to one-tenth of a mile—within which a school zone may be established and speed monitoring systems may be implemented. In shrinking the current allowable and enforceable size of a school zone in all Maryland counties, SB 0011 not only imparts a financial burden on these counties, but also restricts their ability to tailor public safety measures to fit local driving patterns.

From the MACo Testimony:

This bill would effectively require the adjustment of speed cameras, traffic easing mechanisms, signage, and other enforcement tools around all existing school zones, which represents a significant cost to county governments. Specifically, reducing the use of speed cameras in neighborhood streets, a proven tool to combat unsafe driving patterns, is unwise public policy.