Objectives:

To evaluate the impact of school zone sign density on reducing driver speed and increasing driver compliance in school zones.

Methodology:

Four school zones were selected for data collection. Each school zone requires a 10mph speed reduction (45mph to 35mph) and contains a static school zone speed limit sign with no flashers. The school zones represent high and low saturation areas. They also include both two-lane and four-lane roadways. Data were collected for one week (7 days) at each of the four selected sites. Data were collected using QTT NC-200™ Portable Traffic Analyzers™.

Key Findings:

The initial findings can be used to inform sign placement as follows:

• There is no evidence of a negative impact of sign saturation. Place school zone signs as needed.
• Road type (number of lanes) has an impact on driver compliance in a school zone. A school zone located on a 4-lane road is more effective than a school zone located on a 2-lane road.
• There is evidence to suggest that drivers are more compliant to school zone signage in an urban setting. Place school zone signs in urban settings as needed.

Keywords:

School zone sign density, Driver compliance in school zones, School zone speed limit sign.

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