What Drivers Need To Know About School Zones In Sioux Falls

Public school kids head back to the classroom starting Thursday, August 21, in the Sioux Empire.

With our kiddos back in class, the Sioux Falls PD wants to remind every driver out there of this golden rule: Ease up on the skinny pedal on the right in your vehicle, folks, while driving through designated school zone areas.

Now that school is getting underway again, it means morning traffic will be even busier than usual. It also means there's a very good chance that little humans will be darting in and out of moving cars, driving through marked school zone areas.

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Officer Mark Toland with the Sioux Falls Police Department told Dakota News Now, "This is a friendly reminder that, when you are going to drop off or pick up your children or just drive to work and there is a school in the area, the speed limit during drop-off times and when kids are present is 15 miles per hour. So, just make sure you’re watching out for the kiddos. Also, with some of the construction and things, especially by Lincoln High School, just make sure you give yourself some extra time. Be patient, and just take some extra time to get to school and drop off the kids so that everybody arrives there safely.”

This is the time of year when every driver needs to brush up on their back-to-school driving tips.

First and foremost, drivers need to slow down and obey all marked school zone speed limits. School zone speed limits do vary, but generally, in Sioux Falls, the speed limit inside a school zone is typically 15mph when children are present.

What should a motorist do when they encounter a school bus either picking up or dropping off kids on the street?

Be prepared to stop. Then, yield the right-of-way when the buses' red lights are flashing, and their stop arm is extended. It's not a suggestion, it's the law!

Every motorist needs to be especially watchful for kiddos near bus stops and crosswalks. That starts with staying off your phone when you're behind the wheel.

Morning and late afternoon drivers are about to get a report card, too!

If you need to be incentivized to become a better back-to-school driver, just remember this: fines for speeding in school zones in South Dakota carry a higher fine than getting caught speeding in a regular driving zone. A citation for going 1 to 5 mph over the speed limit in a school zone starts at $120.50, compared to $97.50 in a non-school zone, according to Dakota News Now. Should you get nabbed for speeding 26 mph or more over the limit in a school zone, fines can start at $382.50 and could even lead to reckless driving charges.

Bottom line: Be aware of your surroundings, or your wallet will feel it too!

Source: Dakota News Now