What should you do when approaching a school zone during posted hours?

• A. Slow down to the posted school zone speed, be alert for children, and prepare to stop if required.
• B. Maintain highway speed and pass without slowing.
• C. Only slow down if a crossing guard signals you.
• D. Ignore children and focus on the road.

Answer: (C)

When you’re approaching a school zone during posted hours, the priority is to slow to the posted school zone speed, stay alert for children who may step into the roadway, and be prepared to stop if necessary. Children can appear suddenly from between parked cars or from behind parked buses, so reducing your speed gives you more time to react and shorten your stopping distance.

A crossing guard may direct you to stop or proceed, but you still need to be driving at the school zone speed and be ready to stop if conditions require it. Maintaining highway speed is unsafe in a zone where pedestrians—especially kids—may be present, and ignoring children isn’t acceptable. The safe approach emphasizes reducing speed and staying vigilant throughout the posted hours.