SEATTLE — As students head back to school in Seattle, drivers are being reminded to pay close attention in school zones and obey the posted 20 mph speed limit.
During the summer months, some school zone flashing beacons may have been inactive. But once school is back in session, those beacons will be operating again, signaling reduced speed limits designed to help protect students traveling to and from school.
Drivers will also encounter more speed cameras in school zones throughout Seattle. According to city traffic camera citation data, 38,814 citations were issued for speeding in school zones last year. So far in 2026, 45,499 citations have already been issued.
Clara Cantor, a community organizer with Seattle Streets Alliance, a coalition of neighborhood groups that works to make the city a great place to walk, bike, and live, said she notices driver behavior change as schools prepare to start each day.
“I do notice that the closer it gets to bell time, the more aggressive drivers tend to be,” Cantor said.
Cantor said she witnessed traffic challenges firsthand while biking her children to school.
“I try to be a little bit early just to avoid the craziness of the pickup drop-off zone right before school starts,” she said. “Just driving a little bit faster, passing a little closer, just being a little more in a rush and less considerate to the people around them.”
Cantor said one of the organization’s key advocacy efforts has been increasing safe streets infrastructure around schools.
“If you have things like speed bumps or crosswalks, stop signs in the street immediately in front of a school, those physical things kind of force drivers to actually slow down instead of just kind of continuing on as usual,” Cantor said. “And create a slower speed zone right around the school that can be a lot safer for kids trying to get there.”
Traffic safety advocates say the responsibility ultimately falls on drivers to remain alert and aware when traveling through school zones.
AAA Washington Chief Experience Officer Megan West urged drivers to slow down and eliminate distractions.
“It’s time to zone in and slow down, which really means following those speed limits, 20 miles per hour, putting those devices down,” West said.
With thousands of speeding citations already issued this year, safety officials are reminding drivers that paying attention and slowing down near schools can help keep students safe as the new school year begins.