I've got two 20 MPH school zones on my daily commute.. marked by the flashing lights sign.

During the school year about 90% of cars will honor the 20 MPH speed limit... you've always got the 'above the law' jack wagons that don't care.

Then, like clockwork, the week Houston ISD gets out for summer, that number drops to about 30% of drivers that go down to 20 MPH, the rest just keep on trucking through. The lights are still flashing, but I guess people just say "ahh hell school's out screw slowing down!"

So what's the deal here? Has the city just not flipped the lights to turn off yet? Do the cops honor that its summer and you don't have to slow down.. or are they just gonna pull you over anyway?

Are they schools where summer school is going on?

Is it Greens, Creek View or Rock Prairie? Greens has Summer Enrichment, Creek View and Rock Prairie has Kids Klub/Summer Day Camp.

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So what's the deal here? Has the city just not flipped the lights to turn off yet? Do the cops honor that its summer and you don't have to slow down.. or are they just gonna pull you over anyway?

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I've talked to some LEOs about this and they've essentially told me that the city/county hasn't gotten out there to update the lights and that they're not going to enforce school zones when schools out.

A related story...when I was earlier in my career, I worked nights and would usually head home about 6 am. One night, I left around 2 for some reason and as I was driving to my apartment, the school zone lights were flashing. Not knowing whether or not that could be enforced, and if so, if there was a cop hiding out waiting on an easy ticket, I slowed down. A few seconds later, 2 deer ran across the road in front of me in the area around where I would have been had I not slowed down from 40 to 20.

It's for the safety of the cyclists.

zero doubt BCS cops would pull you over at 2am if the lights were flashing

Uncle Gunnysack said:

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zero doubt BCS cops would pull you over at 2am if the lights were flashing

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And then tell you they're sorry about the ticket but they have no choice because the safety of children is a zero tolerance issue

Do we even need school zones anymore? Parents don't even let their kids walk or bike to school anymore.

HBCanine08 said:

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Do we even need school zones anymore? Parents don't even let their kids walk or bike to school anymore.

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well actually where I live, a large number of parents walk to the school and wait for their children and they all walk home together. So in this case yes, schools zones are necessary, as the adults leave bigger dents in the car than if it were just children.

HBCanine08 said:

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Do we even need school zones anymore? Parents don't even let their kids walk or bike to school anymore.

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I've always wondered why we have school zones for high schools. Most kids there are old enough to drive, so what's the real point? I can see the need for elementary and middle school.

In defensive driving they told us, if the lights are flashing, do the speed limit the sign says.

Ginormus Ag said:

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In defensive driving they told us, if the lights are flashing, do the speed limit the sign says.

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Same here

Based on those two responses, it depends.

HBCanine08 said:

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Do we even need school zones anymore? Parents don't even let their kids walk or bike to school anymore.

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Yeah I thought most parents physically delivered their precious Breighdyns directly into their desk every morning.

I've been pulled over for this.

As it was explained to me, the law says to do whatever a sign says whether we like it or not. All signs, all the time. We don't do whatever it says unless we think we know more than the sign. The sign says to slow down whenever it's blinking, it does not say to slow down whenever it's blinking unless it's between the dates of May 31 and August 8.

It's not up to us to determine why it's blinking. We still have to do what it says, even if we think the school is closed and no children are around. Similarly, we still have to stop at a stop sign even though we can see that no cars are coming.

Many of the signs will say under the hours of the school zone: During the school day or when school is in session or something like that.

Some will say: school zone when flashing

If it says when flashing, then to be safe, obey the sign if it is flashing.

Edited for clarification.

About a dozen years ago, a former co-worker of mine got a ticket for speeding in a school zone during summer break. The lights were flashing, but he thought nothing of it since school was out. He learned the hard way.

This was in north Austin.

I hate when there is not a flashing feature and you have to try and read the hours. Ain't nobody got time for that.