NEWS RELEASE

FLASHING LIGHTS ON HIGHWAY 101 GENERATE QUESTIONS

It seems that the new flashing School Zone lights on Highway 101 on both side of Seaside High School are generating some conversation and questions. Do you drive 20 mile an hour when they are flashing or between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. like the other School Zone signs around town indicate? The signs read “Speed Limit 20 When Flashing”.

Oregon law (ORS 811.106) states that "A flashing light used as a traffic control device to indicate that children may be arriving at or leaving school that is operated to give notice under ORS 811.105, 811.123, or 811.235 shall be operated only at times when children are scheduled to arrive at or leave the school.

In English that means when the lights are flashing the speed is 20 miles per hour and when they are not, it is the regular posted speed. The light will only be flashing in the morning before school, during the lunch period and as school lets out.

Also for those of you who have seen the little green plastic boys with the flag and the words “SLOW” in front of City Hall and the Library, they are there to remind you that you are in a School Zone so please slow down to 20 miles per hour.

Working together we can make this a safe school year for all of our children.

Robert Gross

Chief of Police

Seaside Police Department