LAMORINDA WEEKLY | Speed limits reduced around Lafayette


Lafayette Elementary School and HM Stanley Middle School

Beginning at the end of July, new speed limit signs could be seen going up around Lafayette. These changes were part of a series of speed limit reductions around Lafayette, mostly in the areas around schools. They are the most recent part of Lafayette's efforts in the last couple of years to increase traffic safety, which have included the Go Slow Lafayette campaign and the Traffic Calming Program.

These new speed reductions are focused on improving safety for vulnerable road users, such as pedestrians and bicyclists, particularly children, seniors, people with disabilities, people who use assistive devices, and the unhoused. "Years ago, we used to talk about complete streets," said Parametrix engineer David Hoffman when he presented the speed reductions at the April 8 City Council Meeting, "It was the 8-80 question: if you're eight or 80 years old, would you be equally safe on this road?"

These changes come from two studies conducted in the last year. In the fall of 2023, the Engineering and Traffic Study Survey (E&TS) recommended that eight roadway segments have their speed limits reduced by five miles per hour. These segments are legally outside of school zones, but several of them are close to schools and have been changed in part for student and parent safety. These new speed limits range from 25 to 40 mph.

A follow up study to E&TS was the School Zone Speed Limit Study in early 2024. This study recommended reduced speeds in specific areas around the elementary, middle, and high schools in Lafayette. California law stipulates that the speed limit with 500 feet of a school is 25 mph when children are present, but that jurisdictions can lower these speed limits down to 15 mph, as well as extending the 25 mph zone to 1000 feet.

The majority of the new speed limits within Lafayette school zones are 15 mph. These lower range speed limits were chosen because the mortality rate of a pedestrian hit by a car declines steeply with reduced speed. 70% of people die when hit by a car driving 50 mph, 10% die at 23 mph, and only 5% of people die at 15 mph. These speed limits apply only to when children are present, so primarily around school pickup, drop off, and lunchtime recess.

All new speed limits are marked with signage and are now legally enforceable.