We all know L.A. is a car-centric city, and while that often means the comfort of driving solo, it also comes with its fair share of problems (besides environmental pollution), like traffic jams and also accidents.
According to the City Council, more than 60% of serious and fatal crashes involve pedestrians and tend to happen in areas with high foot traffic, especially near schools. That’s why, just a few hours ago, a new proposal moved forward to lower speed limits around these high-risk zones. The initiative aims to expand 15 mph speed zones to 343 streets surrounding 201 schools, as part of ongoing efforts to improve student safety.
The new speed limit proposal for school zones in Los Angeles is not in effect yet. So far, the City Council’s Transportation Committee (made up of three members) has unanimously approved the resolution. The full City Council still needs to vote on the measure in an upcoming meeting.
If approved, the city will begin installing new speed limit signs within six to ten weeks, aiming for completion by the end of the fiscal year: around June 2025. A total of $750,000 has already been allocated for the project. Under California law, the 15 mph limit will only be enforced during school hours, specifically when children are arriving or leaving school.