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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2013 - 2014
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | April 11, 2014 02:07 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Anthony M. DeLuca |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Resolution to study roadway safety surrounding schools |
| I will be introducing a Resolution directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to conduct a statewide study of roadway safety surrounding schools, particularly those in rural areas in this Commonwealth. It has been brought to my attention that in many areas of the Commonwealth children are forced to walk or bicycle to school on roadways where there is no sidewalk or very little berm on the road. These children often must walk in the road, in areas where blind curves and hills can prevent drivers from seeing the children safely. Furthermore, this winter, with snow piled along the sides of the roads, these students had to walk farther into the roadway and, thus their safety, and that of the drivers’ was at risk. Without adequate warning signage notifying drivers they are in a school zone, or to slow down and drive with caution, these children are at great risk of being injured by unaware drivers. This issue is particularly prevalent in rural areas where there are small private schools that are not administered by public school boards and administrations. These schools often “fall under the radar” of local governments or simply do not reach out to those entities regularly. Therefore the safety needs of these students go unnoticed. These children deserve safe passage to and from school nonetheless. My Resolution will direct the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to conduct a study in conjunction with the Department of Transportation where school zone signage is absent but necessary to ensure safe passage for children who may walk, bicycle or otherwise travel to school by methods other than motorized vehicle. |