Back to School Traffic Safety

The Spokane Police Department is ramping up traffic safety efforts as students return to school, urging drivers to slow down in school zones. Enforcement will target speeding and distracted drivers, with photo enforcement cameras becoming active on Tuesday. A staggering two-thirds of drivers exceed speed limits in school zones during peak times, according to a national survey. In Washington, speed-related crashes resulted in 221 deaths in 2024, while distracted driving accounted for 16 fatalities. Spokane has seen over 20 fatal accidents linked to speeding and distraction in the past five years.

Parents are advised to reinforce road safety rules with their children, emphasizing the use of reflective clothing for visibility. Additionally, children should remove backpacks when seated on buses, and elementary-aged children must use booster seats until they reach 4’9” tall. These measures aim to protect the community's most vulnerable members as they head back to school.