Alert! Pay Attention to Montana School Zones!

Yes, it is that time of year again.  Schools across Montana are either already in session or start this week.  And that means it's time for the deluge of reminders about paying attention in school zones.

I'm no hypocrite.

I'll admit right now, during the summer I tend to pay less attention to the school zone speed limit signs than I do during the school year, and I know I'm not alone in that.  I'm not tearing through by any means, but I'm self-aware enough to realize that I'm definitely less careful and attentive than when school is in session.

And that's something I need to be better about, because school is in session here in Great Falls starting this week, so I need to get back in the habit of paying closer attention, since unless I want to take the long way around and really add on to my drive to and from work, I have to drive by at least one elementary school.

School zone speed limits don't go away in the summer.

School playgrounds being accessible during the summer means there's always the possibility of people using them, so the speed limits don't just stop because school's on break.  In some places across Montana, like Bozeman, Helena, and others, school zone speed limits are in effect all year round.  Other places might be slightly less strict about it during the summer, but again, they never fully let up about the speed limit.

Also, I should point out that in some places, the school zone speed limit is 15 MPH, not 25.

So please, join me in paying closer attention as schools across the area get underway for another year.