Ensuring the safety of children in school zones should be a top priority for lawmakers, but two new bills in Georgia’s legislature—House Bill 225 (HB 225) and Senate Bill 75 (SB 75)—could significantly weaken protections designed to keep students safe. These bills seek to change the way speed limits are enforced in school zones, with HB 225 proposing to eliminate automated speed enforcement entirely and SB 75 placing stricter limitations on when cameras can operate. If passed, these laws will make it harder to hold reckless drivers accountable and will likely lead to an increase in speeding-related accidents near schools.

Summary of HB 225 and SB 75

House Bill 225 (HB 225)

  • Eliminates automated speed enforcement cameras in school zones
  • Prohibits local governments from renewing or entering contracts for speed cameras
  • Repeals existing laws governing the use of automated traffic enforcement devices
  • Delays full implementation until 2026, allowing existing contracts to expire

Senate Bill 75 (SB 75)

  • Limits the hours when school zone speed cameras can issue citations
    • Only allowed to operate 90 minutes before the school day begins, and 30 minutes after the first class starts
    • Only allowed to operate 30 minutes before school ends, and 90 minutes after the last class ends
  • Requires larger and more visible signage for speed cameras
  • Clarifies the role of prosecutors in enforcing speed camera violations

What These Bills Mean for Georgia’s School Zones

If passed, HB 225 and SB 75 would significantly weaken traffic safety enforcement in school zones. Here’s how:

  • More Speeding, More Accidents: Automated speed enforcement has been proven to reduce speeding in school zones. Without these cameras, drivers will be less likely to obey speed limits, putting children at greater risk of accidents.
  • Overburdened Law Enforcement: Police officers cannot be present at every school zone during peak hours. Automated cameras supplement their efforts, ensuring that speed limits are enforced even when officers are not available.
  • Higher Risk for Pedestrian Fatalities: Studies show that reducing speed can be the difference between life and death in a pedestrian accident. By making it harder to enforce speed limits, these bills increase the likelihood of serious or fatal injuries.
  • Less Accountability for Reckless Drivers: Speed cameras provide unbiased enforcement, issuing tickets based on objective evidence. Removing them or restricting their use allows more speeding violations to go unpunished.

Why We Must Take Action

These bills prioritize the convenience of speeding drivers over the safety of schoolchildren. Rather than rolling back protections, Georgia should be investing in stronger traffic enforcement measures, such as increasing the number of speed cameras and expanding their hours of operation.

In Cobb County, there are multiple cases in the last year of students being hit by cars while walking home from school:

In January, a Dodgen Middle School Student was hit and seriously injured.

In March, a South Cobb Student was hit and killed by a car.

Pedestrian deaths and serious injuries have increased significantly over the last few years and December saw one of the most violent months on record for vehicular violence. We need to do everything we can to restrict dangerous driving and give pedestrians, and children, safe infrastructure to walk along our streets.

How You Can Get Involved

If you believe that school zones should be safer, now is the time to act. Here’s how you can make a difference:

  1. Contact Your Legislators – Call or email your state representatives and senators to express your opposition to HB 225 and SB 75. Let them know that school zone safety should not be compromised.
  2. Spread Awareness – Share this information with parents, educators, and community members. Many people are unaware of these bills and their potential dangers.

Watch members of A Better Cobb talk about Public Safety below.

Sam F. speaks about a serious injury for a KSU student and why Road Design is a significant factor.

Matt S. speaks about the ongoing vehicular violence experienced on our streets.

Final Thoughts

School zones should be places of safety, not danger. HB 225 and SB 75 undermine years of progress in traffic safety and put Georgia’s children at risk. We must urge lawmakers to reject these proposals and instead focus on strengthening school zone safety, not dismantling it.

Let’s work together to ensure that our children can get to school safely—because no parent should have to worry that a reckless driver will change their child’s future in an instant.

Example Letter

[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, State, ZIP Code]
[Email Address]
[Date]

The Honorable [Legislator’s Name]
[Office Address]
[City, State, ZIP Code]

Subject: Opposing HB 225 & Supporting Speed Enforcement Near Schools for Child Safety

Dear [Legislator’s Name],

I am writing to express my strong opposition to House Bill 225 (HB 225), which seeks to eliminate the use of automated speed enforcement cameras in school zones. As a committed advocate for safe streets, I urge you to reject this bill and instead prioritize measures that protect Georgia’s children by ensuring the enforcement of speed limits near schools.

Every day, thousands of children in our state walk or bike to school, often crossing busy streets where speeding vehicles pose a significant risk. Speed cameras in school zones have proven to be an effective tool in reducing speeding, preventing accidents, and saving lives. By repealing the ability to use these devices, HB 225 places our most vulnerable road users in unnecessary danger.

Why Automated Speed Enforcement Matters

  • Proven Reduction in Speeding: Studies consistently show that speed cameras deter reckless driving. In cities where they are implemented, school zone speeding violations drop significantly.
  • Fewer Crashes, Fewer Injuries: Speed is a leading cause of pedestrian fatalities. A car traveling at 40 mph has an 80% chance of killing a pedestrian in a crash, but at 20 mph, the risk drops to 10%. Enforcing speed limits saves lives.
  • Fair and Objective Enforcement: Automated speed cameras apply the law uniformly, without racial or economic bias. They focus solely on the speed of the vehicle, ensuring fair enforcement.
  • Supports Law Enforcement Efforts: Police officers cannot be everywhere at once. Automated enforcement helps supplement their work, freeing up resources for other critical public safety needs.

The Danger of HB 225

Eliminating automated speed enforcement will embolden reckless drivers, increase speeding in school zones, and lead to more preventable injuries and deaths. Without these devices, law enforcement agencies will be forced to rely solely on in-person enforcement, which is less effective and more resource-intensive.

A Better Approach: Expanding Speed Enforcement, Not Eliminating It

Instead of repealing school zone speed cameras, the Georgia legislature should consider expanding their use and improving safety measures, such as:

  • Increasing the number of speed cameras in high-risk areas.
  • Implementing stricter penalties for repeat offenders.
  • Ensuring revenue from citations goes directly to school safety improvements.

I urge you to oppose HB 225 and instead work toward strengthening speed enforcement measures to protect Georgia’s children. We should be making school zones safer, not rolling back life-saving protections.

Thank you for your time and commitment to the safety of our communities. I welcome any opportunity to discuss this issue further.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Organization, if applicable]