California bill would lower speed in school zones to 20 mph

(KRON) — A California lawmaker drafted new legislation that would lower speed limits in all school zones to 20 miles per hour, or lower.

Assemblymember Marc Berman (D-Menlo Park) spoke outside Castlemont Elementary School in Campbell Thursday about AB 2583, the Safer School Zones Act.

Berman said California’s traffic laws for school zones need to be simple so drivers are not confused. The bill would change ambiguous “when children are present” road signs to signs with time periods, such as when students are arriving to or leaving from school.

A Castlemont Elementary School student was killed in 2022 while he was walking with his babysitter to school. The 8-year-old boy was inside a marked crosswalk outside the school when a vehicle failed to yield and struck him.

The babysitter was also struck on Castlemont Avenue but survived. Police said the speed limit was 25 miles per hour when children were present.

Berman said, “I’ve heard from too many parents concerned about close calls in front of schools or, tragically, kids being hit by cars and seriously injured, or even killed. We must take action to prioritize the safety of every child walking and biking to school.”

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Kirsten Bladh, associate director of Streets for All, said, “Traffic violence is the #1 killer of children in California. Our school zones should be a safe haven. AB 2583 will save lives.”

Studies found that one out of 10 pedestrians struck by a vehicle traveling at 40 mph will survive, but nine out of 10 pedestrians will survive when a vehicle is traveling at 20 mph, according to Berman’s office.

The assembly member said, “Research shows that reducing speed limits in school zones brings significant safety benefits. But lowering speeds alone isn’t enough. Our current school zone policies are confusing for drivers to follow and hard for public safety officials to enforce. School zones should be safe havens for all students, parents, teachers, and school employees.”

The Castlemont community is still mourning the 3rd-grader’s death, Berman said.

Berman said when he was in middle school 30 years ago, another student was killed riding her bicycle to school. “The devastation that has for the family … for the students of the school … and the broader community. That’s a deep, deep pain,” he said Thursday.

Berman’s district includes southern San Mateo County and northern Santa Clara County.

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