Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has rolled out a comprehensive street safety initiative, setting up hundreds of new street safety improvements around schools as students make their back-to-class transition. The recent effort is aimed at enhancing pedestrian safety for children and families during the critical times of day when sidewalks near schools become bustling pathways. It includes the installation of speed humps, updated signage, and revamped intersections designed to induce more cautious driving behaviors in school vicinities.
The push for improved street safety comes at a fitting moment — just as a new school year commences. According to a press release from the Mayor's Office, this particular announcement follows last year's initial installation and the notable recruitment of crossing guards. Mayor Bass emphasized the city's doubled efforts, stating, "We will do all that we can to continue to make communities safer and focus on ensuring a safe experience for students this year."
Key actions under Bass in these endeavors have included establishing School Slow Zones with a reduced speed limit of 15 mph at 625 schools — an extension that encompasses 343 new street segments near 201 schools. Moreover, since 2023, the City has completed over 469 speed hump or speed table installations near 117 schools, with 30 recently added schools benefiting from these over the summer. Safety measures are also being boosted with the installation of quick-build intersection tighteners, new "No Right Turn on Red" restrictions, and Leading Pedestrian Intervals at upwards of 75 schools, as reported by the Mayor's Office.
The City is also bolstering its crossing guard program, deploying close to 500 personnel who assist elementary and middle-school students in navigating busy corridors. LADOT General Manager Laura Rubio-Cornejo noted the impact of these measures, saying, "This expanded school safety program scales our ongoing efforts to address dangerous speeds and driving behavior that put young lives at risk." She further affirmed the initiative had delivered improvements at "hundreds of schools to reduce driver speed and ensure children can get to school safe and ready to learn," as stated by the Mayor's Office.
