Answer Woman: Asheville elementary school zone traffic signal timed incorrectly?
ASHEVILLE - A reader asks about the timing of a school zone flashing signal. Got a question for Answer Man or Answer Woman? Email Executive Editor Karen Chávez at KChavez@citizentimes.com and your question could appear in an upcoming column.
Question: When I was driving on Merrimon Avenue, I noticed that the lights were flashing on the sign that warned of a school zone (near Claxton Elementary School) even though it was almost 45 minutes after the school zone was listed as ending. Is this a daylight saving time mishap that no one ever got around to fixing?
Answer: The flashing school zone signal is working properly, according to Kim Miller, communication and public engagement department, on behalf of the City of Asheville's transportation department.
Claxton Elementary School, 241 Merrimon Ave., is in session from 8 a.m.-2:35 p.m. And the school zone hours are 7:30-8:30 a.m. and 2:25-3:25 p.m. on school days.
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On May 15, Miller said the transportation department reported that the school zone flasher is programmed manually and that the issue would be reviewed.
“City of Asheville Signal staff will field check to ensure it is working properly and timed correctly,” Miller said in an email.
On May 16, Miller sent an update from the team that stated, “No issues were found with the school zone flasher. The timing is correct. Even so, our Signal Tech is going to double-check with the principal on timing.”
The reader's question serves as a reminder to be mindful of school zone protocols, even as we enter the summer season, and pedestrian safety, overall.
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A flashing school zone signal means to slow the speed of the vehicle to the posted speed limit. Be aware of children and other pedestrians on the road and in crosswalks, as well as vehicles driving slowly or that have stopped as they drop off or pick up students.
“A person who drives a motor vehicle in a school zone at a speed greater than the speed limit set and posted under this section is responsible for an infraction and is required to pay a penalty of two hundred fifty dollars,” according to North Carolina statute, § 20-141.1 (Speed limits in school zones).
On Aug. 22, 2022, Miller published a blog post on the City’s website regarding the repercussions of passing a stopped school bus.
Passing a school bus that is stopped and has its stop arm deployed is a Class 1 misdemeanor and punishable by a “revocation of the individual’s driver’s license for 30 days for the first offense, up to 120 days in jail and significant discretionary fines by the court.
If a child is struck and caused bodily injury while passing the stopped school bus, the penalty is classified as a Class 1 Felony and punishable by 15 months in prison and the driver is given fines discretionary by the court.
Tiana Kennell is the food and dining reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Email her at tkennell@citizentimes.com or follow her on Twitter/Instagram @PrincessOfPage. Please support this type of journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Is an Asheville elementary school zone signal timed incorrectly?
