2 Del. Admin. Code § 7A.01

Current through Register Vol. 28, No. 5, November 1, 2024

Section 7A.01 - Need for Standards

Support:

01 Regardless of the school location, the best way to achieve effective traffic control is through the uniform application of realistic policies, practices, and standards developed through engineering judgment or studies.

02 Pedestrian safety depends upon public understanding of accepted methods for efficient traffic control. This principle is especially important in the control of pedestrians, bicycles, and other vehicles in the vicinity of schools. Neither pedestrians on their way to or from school nor other road users can be expected to move safely in school areas unless they understand both the need for traffic controls and how these controls function for their benefit.

03 Procedures and devices that are not uniform might cause confusion among pedestrians and other road users, prompt wrong decisions, and contribute to crashes. To achieve uniformity of traffic control in school areas, comparable traffic situations need to be treated in a consistent manner. Each traffic control device and control method described in Part 7 fulfills a specific function related to specific traffic conditions.

04 A uniform approach to school area traffic controls assures the use of similar controls for similar situations, which promotes appropriate and uniform behavior on the part of motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists.

05 A school traffic control plan permits the orderly review of school area traffic control needs, and the coordination of school/pedestrian safety education and engineering measures. Engineering measures alone do not always result in the intended change in student and road user behavior.

Guidance:

06 A school route plan for each school serving elementary to high school students should be prepared in order to develop uniformity in the use of school area traffic controls and to serve as the basis for a school traffic control plan for each school.

07 The school route plan, developed in a systematic manner by the school, law enforcement, and traffic officials responsible for school pedestrian safety, should consist of a map (see Figure 7A-1) showing streets, the school, existing traffic controls, established school walk routes, and established school crossings.

08 The type(s) of school area traffic control devices used, either warning or regulatory, should be related to the volume and speed of vehicular traffic, street width, and the number and age of the students using the crossing.

09 School area traffic control devices should be included in a school traffic control plan.

Support:

10 Reduced speed limit signs for school areas and crossings are included in this Manual solely for the purpose of standardizing signing for these zones and not as an endorsement of mandatory reduced speed zones.

Standard:

10A (DE Revision) Title 21, Chapter 41, Subchapter VIII, §4169 of the Delaware Code establishes that where no special hazard exists the speed limit in school zones shall be 20 mph where 20 mph regulatory signs are posted and state the specific time periods or under what conditions during which the 20 mph speed is in effect.

Guidance:

10B (DE Revision) In general the 20 mph speed limit should be applied only in locations where there is a reasonable expectation of children walking to/from school.

Option:

10C (DE Revision) Title 21, Chapter 41, Subchapter VIII, §4169 of the Delaware Code establishes that on the basis of engineering study or investigation a maximum speed limit greater or less than 20 mph may be established by the Department of Transportation. Factors that may be considered in such an investigation and study can include: location and surrounding environment of the school, driver expectation, existing posted speed limit along the adjacent and surrounding roadways, traffic volumes and vehicle operating characteristics, the presence or absence of children walking to or from school, etc.

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Support:

11 "School" and "school zone" are defined in Section 1A.13.

2 Del. Admin. Code § 7A.01