Prince William County Implements Speed Cameras in School Zones for Enhanced Safety

Photo byThe Inside Scoop - PWC

Enforcement of speeding violations is set to commence in select school zones in Prince William County, Virginia. The school zone speed program is scheduled to launch in several key areas, including Route 15 near Battlefield High School, Old Bridge Road near Woodbridge High School and Old Bridge Elementary School, Benita Fitzgerald Drive near Fitzgerald Elementary School, and Kettle Run Road near Patriot High School and T. Clay Wood Elementary School. Additional school zones will see the introduction of speed cameras in the coming months.

A school zone speeding violation occurs when a driver exceeds the posted speed limit by 11 or more miles per hour in an active school zone during school arrivals and dismissals when school zone lights are flashing. Violators will face a $100 citation, but the offense will not impact driver records, demerit points, or insurance premiums.

The 30-day warning period began on January 29, with enforcement and citations slated to commence on March 5. Variable message boards will be deployed at each school zone at least a week before activation. Warnings and citations, detailing the recorded speed, time, date of the violation, and an image of the vehicle's rear, will be sent by mail to the registered vehicle owner. Citations are subject to contestation in court.

The automated speed limit enforcement pilot program was authorized by the Prince William Board of County Supervisors in 2023, with a primary focus on active school zones, highway work zones, and red lights. The decision followed a 2022 study on automated traffic enforcement, prompted by an uptick in severe crashes and fatalities in the county since 2020.

Virginia legislation, passed in 2020, permits localities to operate speed cameras in active school zones and highway work zones. Fairfax County and the City of Manassas in Northern Virginia have already adopted school zone speed camera programs. Red light enforcement cameras are expected to be introduced later in 2024, according to the county government, following state legislation allowing such systems since 2007. The initial selection of school zones for speed cameras aims to represent varying schools and road conditions, with data collected before and after implementation to assess the program's impact on reducing speed in these areas.