Newly installed speed limit signs in Hollywood aimed at improving student safety.
The Hollywood City Council has approved a measure to reduce the speed limit to 15 mph on 343 streets near schools to enhance student safety. Taking effect by early summer, the initiative aims to address the alarming rates of traffic collisions involving children. The speed limits will be enforced during school drop-off and pick-up times, with additional measures planned to ensure security around school zones.
The Hollywood City Council has approved a measure to lower the speed limit to 15 mph on 343 streets near schools in an effort to increase the safety of students. The unanimous decision, made on Wednesday, is expected to take effect by early summer, with city crews tasked to install new signage by July 1. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to make school zones safer, particularly given the alarming rates of traffic collisions involving children.
The new speed limits will be specifically enforced during times when children are present, such as during morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up periods. Notably, the speed limit on Fountain Avenue, between Van Ness Avenue and St. Andrews Place, will also be reduced to 15 mph. The installation of the new signs is projected to take between six to ten weeks following council approval.
Traffic collisions are cited as the leading cause of death for children aged 2 to 14. Data reveals that nearly 56% of fatal and serious injury crashes occur within a quarter-mile of schools, highlighting the urgency for enhanced safety measures. Under state law, municipalities have the authority to implement lower speed limits around schools compared to the standard 25 mph designated for most urban areas. The Safe Routes to School Strategic Plan, established in 2012, provides a framework for these safety initiatives using data-driven processes to address vulnerabilities around school campuses.
In 2016, 15 mph speed limits were introduced at eleven of the highest priority schools identified by the LA Unified School District (LAUSD) for safety improvements. Additionally, by August 2023, a total of 98 street segments adjacent to 44 schools had received updating speed limits, emphasizing the ongoing commitment to improve student safety.
The city’s recent measures are also supported by Mayor Karen Bass‘s 2023-24 budget, which allocates funding for safety improvements at another 201 schools. Many of these targeted streets fall within the city’s High Injury Network, which signifies areas with high collision rates that frequently result in severe injuries and fatalities. An analysis of traffic incidents revealed that 65% of serious and fatal collisions involving pedestrians occurred on only 6% of city streets.
While the plan aims to address issues around school safety, advocates have expressed concerns that simply lowering speed limits may not be sufficient to enhance child safety without implementing additional traffic calming measures or increased enforcement strategies. Although speed humps have been installed in many but not all school zones, a recent audit of the city’s Vision Zero strategy indicated it has not significantly reduced traffic fatalities or serious injuries, receiving an F Grade from an independent evaluation.
The Hollywood City Council’s decision reflects a necessary step toward addressing the safety of children as road users, taking into account the serious risks they face daily as they travel to and from school. As the implementation of these new speed limits progresses, the community remains watchful for tangible improvements in student safety on the streets of Hollywood.
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