Vehicles: prima facie speed limits.
If enacted, AB 1343 would reinforce local control over speed limit decisions, emphasizing the importance of safety in school zones. The bill stipulates that for any newly established speed limit to be effective, appropriate signage must be in place, and the ordinance must receive approval from the Department of Transportation if it involves state highways. This aligns with existing safety protocols while giving local authorities more flexibility to respond to specific community needs based on data collected from traffic surveys.
Assembly Bill 1343, introduced by Assembly Member Flora, seeks to amend Section 22358.4 of the California Vehicle Code, specifically addressing prima facie speed limits in relation to local authorities. The proposed bill allows local authorities to establish and declare lower prima facie speed limits than the standard 25 miles per hour, provided they determine through an engineering and traffic survey that a speed limit of 25 miles per hour is not reasonable or safe. They may declare limits of either 20 or 15 miles per hour when justified by such surveys. This change aims to enhance traffic safety, particularly in areas where schools are located and where children might be at risk while walking to or from school.
While the bill appears to create more tailored regulation of speed limits based on local assessments, there may be contention regarding the implementation and enforcement of these changes. Concerns could arise about how local authorities will conduct these surveys and ensure consistent safety standards. Moreover, questions about the accountability and transparency of the decision-making processes for setting these limits may arise, particularly in communities with differing views on road safety measures.