In every state, there are specific rules dealing with the roadways around schools. These state-designated areas are meant to be safer for kids of all ages. When everyone follows the law, traffic jams are reduced as well. If you’re an Alaska driver, make sure that you understand and follow the laws in Alaska school zones.    

State Speed Limits

Speeding in a school zone is one of the most common Alaska school zone tickets given to drivers. In this state, speed limits range from 15 to 65. Most school zones are found in residential areas, where the speed limit is typically 25 miles per hour. However, when school zone laws are in effect, usually before and after school, that speed limit drops to 20 miles per hour. In some cases, you may also have to stop at cross walks, obey even lower speed limit signs, or yield to others, so pay attention if you have to drive through a school zone.

Fines for Speeding in a School Zone

Fines for speeding depend on how fast you were going. Generally, they’ll be up to $300, but in Alaska school zones, you’ll pay double whatever the normal speeding ticket would be. If your Alaska school zone ticket is for other violations, like reckless driving, you’ll pay even more.

Along with fines for speeding in a school zone, you’ll also be given points. The points system in Alaska is fairly harsh, and after you accumulate six points in twelve months, you have to take mandatory driving school. A speeding ticket in an Alaska school zone is six points alone, so traffic school is usually mandatory.

Importance of Child Safety

Alaska school zones are set in place for a number of reasons. They can help encourage parents to allow their children to walk to school. They can also reduce traffic congestion around school during rush hours in the morning and afternoon. However, the most important reason school zones are set in place throughout the country is so that these areas are safer for the children.

When you’re speeding or otherwise recklessly driving in an Alaska school zone, you’re not giving yourself much time to react to other drivers and to children. Young children think nothing about chasing balls into the street without looking, and even older children will often be distracted by friends, books, cell phones, and so forth. As the driver, you have to watch for pedestrians who might not see you. If you’re speeding, you won’t have much time to react, which can cause you to run into a child.

Children are growing and developing, and car accidents are often, unfortunately, fatal. With Alaska school zones, drivers are given signals indicating when children are most likely to be in the area. By obeying the laws of these Alaska school zones, you can avoid injuring or killing a child.

School Zone Identifiers

Luckily, the state of Alaska doesn’t make it easy to get an Alaska school zone ticket. Although the laws may seem overbearing at times, it is better to err on the side of caution when children are involved. School zones are readily identified with road signs, which will list the speed and the times during which the school zones are in effect.

In addition, most Alaska school zones have flashing lights, extra caution signs, and crosswalk signs. Most of the time, crossing guards will patrol cross walks – at least, those that get a lot of foot traffic. By obeying all signs and guards, you can ensure that you’re creating a safe environment for all of the children in the area.