New flashing beacons have recently been installed at 11 schools throughout the city, including four in West Seattle reminding drivers to adhere to the 20 mph speed limit in school zones. For the safety of students, driving the school zone speed limit of 20 miles per hour is especially important.

The schools receiving new beacons:

· Bryant Elementary School & Assumption- St Bridget School – NE 65th St

· Denny Middle School & Chief Sealth High School – SW Thistle St

· Gatewood Elementary School – California Ave SW

· Hawthorne Elementary School – 38th Ave S

· McDonald Elementary School – Latona Ave NE

· Montlake Elementary School – 24th Ave NE

· Rainier View Elementary School – Beacon Ave S

· K-5 STEM at Boren – Delridge Way SW

· Whitman Middle School – 15th Ave NW

Every school in Seattle is surrounded by signs clearly notifying drivers of the lower speed limit. Before entering the school zone, drivers pass a sign alerting them that they should expect to see students. The “School – Speed Limit 20” sign marks the beginning of the reduced speed zone.

SDOT has now installed flashing beacons along with the school zone signage on arterial streets at more than 65 schools to draw more attention to the reduced speed limit. Before and after studies show an overall reduction in speeding as a result of flashing beacons, with the largest impact on those drivers exceeding the speed limit by 10 or more miles per hour.

For a link to a schedule of the times during the day that flashing beacons will be operating at each school, please visit SDOT’s webpage, http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/ped_srts_sign.htm.