New school zone signs now more visible

If you're seeing green lately as you drive around Yuma, it might well be the new school zone signs in the city.

The city's public works department has completed installation of the new signs in school zones throughout the city. The new pedestrian signs, a blend of green and yellow, replace the standard yellow school warning signs.

This is the new official color for school zone signs.

Visibility studies have shown that signs with yellow-green fluorescent reflective sheeting can be seen at distances up to 40 percent further than standard yellow colors during the day and up to 50 percent further at night. Tests revealed that in areas where yellow-green signs replaced the standard yellow signs, the number of drivers slowing down increased by 50 to 100 percent.

The new signs are also larger — 36 inches by 36 inches. Previously, school zone signs were 30 inches by 30 inches.

“We take school safety very seriously here,” said Dave Nash, city spokesman. “We have the 15 mph speed limit in school zones. This is one more step to ensure the safety of our children. The color, the reflectivity, the size all make these new signs more visible.”

Nash noted that there will be no change to driving regulations within a school zone, and there is no change in where school zones are located.

Public works staff replaced 156 signs at 22 local schools.

The new green pedestrian signs are mandated by the Federal Highway Administration. As part of the 2009 revision to the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, all school warning signs require the fluorescent yellow-green background.

The city received a $35,000 grant from the Highway Safety Improvement Program administrated through the FHWA to cover the sign replacement.

Joyce Lobeck can be reached at jlobeck@yumasun.com or 539-6853. Find her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/YSJoyceLobeck or on Twitter at @YSJoyceLobeck.