Back-to-School Traffic Safety Blitz
In order to increase the safety of school children, the Corvallis Police Department will conduct a Back-to-School Traffic Safety Blitz September 4th through September 13th, 2024.
Corvallis Police officers will be assigned to all elementary, middle and high schools within the city limits. This safety blitz supports the goals of the Safe Routes to School Committee, a coalition of agencies striving to improve the safety of school children.
Officers will be strictly enforcing the school zone speed law, as well as the laws requiring drivers to stop for pedestrians in crosswalks and for crossing guards. Officers will also be targeting other safety violations, to include distracted driving (cell phone usage).
The school zones speed is 20 mph when the zone is posted and when any of the following occur:
- When a flashing light indicates children may be present; or
- 7 AM to 5 PM on a day when school is in session (if the school zone does not have a flashing light); or
- When “children are present.” Children are considered to be present at any time and on any day when there are children in a crosswalk, waiting at a crosswalk or when a crossing guard is present.
According to the Oregon Department of Transportation, a vehicle traveling 20mph will take 64 feet to stop (about five lengths of the average car). A vehicle traveling 25 mph (just five miles faster!) will take 86 feet to stop, which is nearly seven lengths of the average car.
The Corvallis Police Department urges drivers to obey the speed limit. Under Oregon law, drivers exceeding the posted speed limit by any amount are subject to citation.
Oregon law also requires drivers to obey the directions of school crossing guards and to stop and remain stopped for pedestrians who are crossing the street in a crosswalk.