Most Dangerous School Zones

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By Chelsea Kopta

Summary

Action News reveals some of the most dangerous school zones in the Tri-Cities. KEPR pulled speeding ticket violations from school districts across the area and found a few that stick out as hot spots for speeders, right where your kids are crossing the street.

Story Published: Aug 31, 2010 at 6:13 PM PST

PASCO, Wash. -- During afternoon pick-up at Virgie Robinson Elementary in Pasco, kids filtered out beside busy E. Lewis Street and S. Wehe.

The school zone speed limit signs read 20 miles per hour and the school zone lights flash everyday, but staked out nearby were Pasco Police officers, keeping a watchful eye on drivers passing the crowd of moving backpacks.

Action News found extra police patrols were critical considering the hundreds of drivers we found that flew through that area. During the 2009 - 2010 school year, Pasco Police ticketed roughly 220 drivers on streets surrounding Robinson. It was one of the many spots that stuck out after we pulled speeding violations in school zones around the Tri-Cities.

Pasco High School also ranked more dangerous, with around 250 people ticketed for going too fast in a 20 mph zone. These high numbers are a major concern for parents like Maria Hernandez who walks her daughters to school at nearby Whittier Elementary.

"I think its very dangerous for kids cause sometimes they are walking along people need to be very careful," Hernandez said.

In Richland, the trouble spot is near Carmichael Middle on Lee Boulevard where Richland Police pulled over 128 people. Jefferson Elementary came in a close second with nearly 100 drivers ticketed.

In Kennewick, of 96 tickets issued for the whole city last school year, 53 were pulled over near Amistad Elementary. Desert Hills Middle ranked second highest with 20 speeders.

"That's disturbing because there are children and people need to slow down," Megan McMurtray said, a parent who lives across from Amistad.

Action News dug deeper to find out why these schools were hot spots. Some drivers told KEPR that they didn't realize the areas were school zones. Not all school zones are marked with flashing lights and if they do have flashing lights, they're not always on a sign. But across the board, police said one of the biggest reasons for speeders in school zones was because they sit on main streets.

Kennewick Police did add extra safety lights and radar readers but police are adamant they will remain the first line of defense to keep your kids safe from speeders. Police said if you aren't sure what the speed limit is, 20 miles per hour is a safe bet.