School Zone With Guard, Cyclist, and Pedestrian
It is 7:45 AM on a school day in a Maine town. You are driving 30 mph on a two-lane street with a posted 20 MPH SCHOOL SPEED LIMIT sign and a WHEN FLASHING plaque. The yellow lights on the sign are flashing. A crossing guard in a fluorescent vest steps into the crosswalk holding a STOP sign. A child on a bicycle is ahead in a shared-lane marking, and a pedestrian is waiting at the curb on your right. The school is 200 feet ahead. Your lane is clear, and you are late for work. You need to decide your speed, whether to stop for the guard, and how to handle the cyclist and pedestrian.
1. What speed should you be traveling, and when does the 20 mph limit apply?
Read the worked answer
The 20 MPH school speed limit applies when the yellow lights are flashing. They are flashing, so 20 mph is the legal maximum now-not 30. You should slow to 20 mph or less before the sign and be ready to stop. The WHEN FLASHING plaque is the condition that activates the limit. Even after the lights stop, remain cautious because children may still be nearby. In a school zone, the fine for speeding is often higher, and the safety risk is high. Your lateness does not justify exceeding the limit or rolling through the crosswalk.
2. Must you stop for the crossing guard, and what do you do about the pedestrian waiting at the curb?
Read the worked answer
Yes, stop for the crossing guard. A crossing guard holding a STOP sign is directing traffic and has authority to stop you; stop before the crosswalk and wait until the guard signals you to proceed. The pedestrian waiting at the curb may step into the crosswalk at any moment. Maine law requires drivers to yield to pedestrians in a crosswalk, and in a school zone you should stop for a waiting pedestrian rather than assume they will wait. Do not proceed until the guard is clear, the crosswalk is empty, and you have checked both directions. Keep stopped even if another driver honks.
3. How should you interact with the cyclist in the shared-lane marking?
Read the worked answer
The shared-lane marking-often a white bicycle symbol with chevrons-tells you that bicyclists may use the full lane and that you should expect them in your lane. Do not try to squeeze past the child. Slow down, stay behind, and pass only when you can leave at least 3 feet of clearance and it is safe; otherwise wait. Do not honk or rev the engine, which can startle a young cyclist. In a school zone, children on bikes may be inexperienced and unpredictable. Give the cyclist time and space, and watch for the pedestrian and crossing guard at the same time.