# 20 MPH When Children Present **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 15, 2008, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20-mph-when-children-present/468034 "2008-10-15T14:37:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![St.Urho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8e7dd6/32.png) [@St.Urho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/St.Urho)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2008, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20-mph-when-children-present/468034/1 "2008-10-15T14:37:11Z")
I drive through a school zone on my way home now. The speed limit signs say: “School Zone 20 MPH When Children Present.” What exactly does this mean? Is the speed limit 20 only when I can see kids there? Is it 20 during school hours or on school days? I live in Colorado… ---
**Author:** ![FatBaldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecd19e/32.png) [@FatBaldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FatBaldGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2008, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20-mph-when-children-present/468034/2 "2008-10-15T15:09:07Z")
Around here, they have flashing lights and crossing guards when the school zone speeds are in effect. Generally this is 30-45 minutes before and after school and during lunch time. In the absence of those, I think you would be expected to drive carefully through the school zone at all times, and slow down to 20 if you see kids near the street. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2008, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20-mph-when-children-present/468034/3 "2008-10-15T15:20:46Z")
This was a question on the written portion of my driver’s license test, 22 years ago. I remember, because I got it wrong. 🙂 It was worded almost exactly as the OP, with multiple choice options. “The sign says 20 MPH when children present. What does this mean? (a) 20 MPH when children are present, (b) 20 MPH during school hours or whenever children are likely to be present, etc.” I don’t remember the other two options, beyond dismissing them as obviously wrong. I couldn’t remember exactly what the manual said so I focused on (a) and (b). I thought (a) would be sort of silly, because, practically speaking, you can come cruising into the zone at 35, and then slam on the brakes for a precipitous deceleration upon the spying of one or more frolicking tykes. That struck me as dangerous, and (b) seemed much more reasonable, so that’s what I marked. The correct answer, as it turned out, was (a). I’m still a little baffled by it. Nevertheless, that’s what the sign “means,” legally speaking, or at least, two decades ago. This is in Washington state, for what it’s worth. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2008, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20-mph-when-children-present/468034/4 "2008-10-15T15:41:02Z")
> [@St.Urho](#): > > I drive through a school zone on my way home now. The speed limit signs say: “School Zone 20 MPH When Children Present.” What exactly does this mean? Is the speed limit 20 only when I can see kids there? Is it 20 during school hours or on school days? I live in Colorado… > [@](#): > > **School zones are posted at 20 MPH**. Some school zones are marked with the flashing yellow lights to help drivers identify and slow down in those areas. Other school zones are just marked with the school zone speed limit and the times the speed limit is in effect. > > **Speeding violations in a school zone are double fines, $20.00 per each mile an hour over the limit, and a mandatory court appearance.** > > Did you know that you cannot drive through a crosswalk when pedestrians are in the crosswalk and the crosswalk guard indicates prohibition? > > You have to wait until the crossing guard gets back on the sidewalk before you can proceed. Source: [Colorado Springs Police Dept. - August 2008](http://www.springsgov.com/units/police/MiscDocs/BacktoSchool_08.doc) (Word DOC warning.) ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2008, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20-mph-when-children-present/468034/5 "2008-10-15T15:58:05Z")
I’ve wondered about those signs near high schools. What if a student is present, but that student is an 18 year old high school senior and, therefore, not a “child?” Also, I suppose a single child, regardless of age, is not sufficient to lower the speed limit since the law says “children” in the plural. ---
**Author:** ![OldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3bc359/32.png) [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2008, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20-mph-when-children-present/468034/6 "2008-10-15T20:05:34Z")
> [@Bearflag70](#): > > I’ve wondered about those signs near high schools. What if a student is present, but that student is an 18 year old high school senior and, therefore, not a “child?” Also, I suppose a single child, regardless of age, is not sufficient to lower the speed limit since the law says “children” in the plural. But be careful. If you’re driving your own kid to school and you see one, then, counting yours in the back seat, “children” are present. And are you really sure about the back seat of that car in front of you?