Speeding through a school zone is dangerous and a big safety issue.
- Tampa neighborhood has issue with school zone speeding
- Resident says lack of signs may be the problem
- Drivers have no warning of entering the school zone
- RELATED: Bay area traffic info
A resident in one Tampa neighborhood says the signs or lack of signs may be the problem.
Rhonda Lecornu reached out to Bay News 9's traffic expert, Chuck Henson, for help.
"Now I'm doing seventeen....eight....now look at this car passing me, because they have no idea why I'm going so slow. Here comes another one," Rhonda explains.
Buchanan Middle School is at the intersection of Bearss Ave and North Boulevard. Rhonda says the school on Bearss doesn't have a flashing light in front of the school headed westbound on Bearss.
With no flashing light, drivers routinely ignore the 20 miles per hour school zone speed limit.
The school sits in the northwest corner of the intersection. The school zone for traffic westbound on Bearss Avenue begins before the intersection. There's an overhead flashing sign letting drivers know they're in the school zone.
However, for northbound traffic on North Blvd., as they turn left in front of the school, there is no overhead flashing sign.
The northbound traffic enters the school zone after the warning and the next sign they see is the one showing the end of the school zone.
By then they are already up to speeds over the posted 20 miles per hour.
Rhonda and her daughter watch traffic speed through the intersection every hour.
"The cars that are headed west, they forget. See how this guy is flying through here? Even the school buses go pretty fast," Rhonda said.
Chuck Henson said he reached out to the County Traffic Management and the Sheriff's Office to see if an additional sign or enforcement would help solve the problem. Both are looking into the issue.