Slow down! Sacramento schools adapting to new speed limits
Slow down! Sacramento schools adapting to new speed limits

A new school year begins Wednesday when students return to Natomas-area schools, and drivers need to be aware of new speed limits in Sacramento school zones.

The new speed limit within 500 feet of schools is now 15 mph.

The Sacramento City Council voted in June to reduce the school zone speed limit as part of its Vision Zero Action Plan.

The plan hopes to eliminate traffic fatalities by 2027 after the city was named the deadliest in the state for pedestrian victims under 15 and for victims killed in speed-related crashes.

"We really want this to be a city-wide educational effort for why speed matters and why slowing our speeds around schools is really important," said Sacramento traffic planner Leslie Mancebo.

Traffic planners identified 225 streets around 115 schools where the new speed limit could be applied.

The Sacramento Public Works Department has been busy replacing speed limit signs around the schools and said it could be several months before all of the new speed limit signs are posted.

"Fifteen miles per hour -- yeah it’s slow, but I’d rather be slow and safe than fast and dangerous.

Just being mindful that there are children around, adults that aren't looking and kids darting into traffic, being mindful of being slow and pedestrians doing their part," said Sacramento police Officer Alexis Grove .

The new speed limit is not enforceable until the signs are posted.

City crews started in South Sacramento and are working their way north.

Parents are urged to adopt the new speed limit now so they are not surprised once the signs are posted outside their school.