Drivers in the Tulsa area are having trouble recognizing some school speed limit signs

TULSA, Oklahoma – If you get a ticket for speeding in a busy school zone, you'll have to appear in court. If the judge finds you guilty, you could face fines and possibly jail time, depending on how fast you were driving.

KJRH

Tulsa Police have issued nearly 1,600 tickets to speeders in school zones since the beginning of 2022.

KJRH

So, if you see flashing yellow lights or a sign indicating that a school zone applies at certain times, drivers must reduce their speed.

After all, it is about the safety of the children.

Terry Doverspike lives near 71st Street and South 73rd.

This intersection is in the middle of a school zone that is activated twice a day. Drivers on 71st Street can easily see the large school zone signs with flashing yellow lights.

However, he fears that those turning left onto 71st Street will not be able to easily tell when the school zone is active.

KJRH

“As you approach the intersection,” Doverspike said, “and head east on 71st Street, you should look west across all six lanes of traffic and look for a tiny white light on the back of the flashing sign that tells you the road is active.”

KJRH

That's right. On the back of the sign is a small white light that flashes. Many people don't know to look for this light, and even those who do may have difficulty seeing it. Depending on how they approach the intersection, it may be obscured by traffic, tree branches, or a large utility pole.

When Doverspike took his issue to the city last year, the street department put up a sign indicating a school zone on 71st Street, but it did not indicate what time of day the zone was active.

KJRH

“I then reached out to our councilwoman, Lori Decter Wright, and she was very accommodating,” he said. “She offered to speak to the street department and then put me back in touch with them directly. When they got back in touch, their response was, if you live in the neighborhood, you should know when school is open without needing a flashing light. So she couldn't get any results either.”

So Doverspike called the troubleshooters.

We have discovered at least two other school areas with similar problems.

KJRH

Drivers turning left out of Sam's Club on Mingo heading north in front of Union High School will not be able to see the flashing yellow lights that indicate when this school zone is active. But at least the white light on the back is easier to see.

KJRH

And drivers turning onto 31st Street from a side street next to Ellen Ochoa Elementary cannot see the flashing lights that indicate that school is in session in that school zone.

“When they come out of school, they can't see the lights flashing,” said Craig Heatherly, a traffic investigator with the Tulsa Police Department.

When 2 News asked for an interview with the Tulsa Department of Highways.

2 News has requested this information from the U.S. Department of Transportation and will add it to this article as soon as we receive it.

If you know of other school zones where drivers may have difficulty seeing the signs, please let us know.

Stay in touch with us anytime, anywhere –