Police Department

Back to School Traffic Safety

Sgt. Teresa Fuller, Public Information Office

Thursday, August 28, 2025 at 4:35 p.m.

As children head back to school, the Spokane Police Department is asking everyone to reduce their speeds and be sure to pay attention while driving. The Spokane Police Traffic Unit will be out enforcing speeds around school zones, watching for distracted drivers, and drivers who disobey bus stop paddles. The school zone photo enforcement cameras will also be active starting Tuesday.

Speeding is a deadly and costly problem in school zones. A national survey found two-thirds of drivers exceed the posted speed limit in school zones during the 30-minute periods before and after classes. School zone speed safety cameras provide a constant enforcement presence that changes driver behavior for improved community road safety.

Speeding kills and not just on highways. In 2024, speed-related crashes killed 221 people in Washington and distracted driving resulted in the deaths of 16 people. In Spokane alone over the last five years, speeding and distracted driving were listed as factors in more than 20 fatal crashes. Children can be unpredictable and are especially vulnerable. A pedestrian struck by a car at 20 mph has a 90 percent chance of survival, but the survival rate drops to 50 percent at 30 mph.

Also, parents should remind walking and biking children of the rules of the road. Bright and/or reflective backpacks and clothing are best to be easily seen. They should also remain distraction free. Bus riders should remove their backpacks before sitting down so they are properly seated. Elementary children riding with parents need to be in boosters until they are 4’9” tall and have to be in the back seat until they are 13 years of age.

We can all work together to keep our most precious cargo safe as they head back to school!

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