Enhancing School Zone Safety: Case Studies in Puerto Rico Using Driving Simulation

Valdes Diaz, Didier M.; Colucci Rios, Benjamin; Medina, Alberto M. Figueroa; Colon Torres, Enid; Ibarra, María X. Rojas; Garcia Rosario, Ricardo; Canela, Yindhira Taveras; López, Ivelisse Ramos; Román, Carolyn Arroyo · 2019 · ROSA P / Safety Research Using Simulation (SAFER-SIM) University Transportation Center

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Summary

This study addresses the critical safety challenges in school zones, specifically focusing on driver behavior and the effectiveness of traffic control devices (TCDs) in Puerto Rico. Motivated by high rates of pedestrian fatalities and low speed limit compliance in school zones adjacent to high-speed arterial roads, the research aims to evaluate how drivers react to existing conditions versus a proposed new combination of signage and pavement markings. The project utilizes driving simulation to safely assess these variables without risking human lives, building on previous findings that standard signage often fails to ensure compliance. The methodology involved a multi-stage process beginning with the selection of two case study schools in western Puerto Rico: S.U. Samuel Adams and Franklin D. Roosevelt. Schools were selected based on crash history analysis using the Crash Analysis Reporting Environment (CARE) database, calculating Equivalent Property Damage Only (EPDO) scores to identify high-risk locations. Following site inspections and stakeholder interviews, an online survey was conducted to gauge public perception of school zone safety and signage effectiveness. The core experimental design utilized the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez driving simulator. Researchers developed base scenarios replicating the actual roadways and introduced experimental configurations with enhanced TCDs. Data collected included mean speed, speed limit compliance, lateral position, acceleration noise, and reaction times to simulated pedestrian crossings. The results from the driving simulation experiments provided specific insights into driver performance. For S.U. Samuel Adams, the analysis focused on mean speed, compliance percentages, lateral positioning, and acceleration noise across different zones of interest. Statistical tests, including T-tests, were used to compare driver behavior between existing conditions and the new TCD configurations. For Franklin D. Roosevelt, the study examined speed selection profiles and driver reactions to crossing pedestrians, measuring time-to-collision and speed reductions in specific zones. The survey data complemented these findings by revealing gaps in driver knowledge regarding TCDs and highlighting preferences for specific signage combinations, such as overhead signs with flashing beacons. The significance of this research lies in its evidence-based approach to enhancing school zone safety through engineering measures. By demonstrating the impact of specific TCD configurations on driver speed and behavior, the study offers actionable recommendations for traffic engineers and policymakers. The findings suggest that tailored combinations of signage and pavement markings can effectively reduce speeds and improve driver awareness in high-risk school zones. This work contributes to the broader field of transportation safety by validating the use of driving simulators for evaluating vulnerable road user protection strategies and providing a framework for improving safety infrastructure in similar urban environments.

Key finding

The implementation of new traffic control devices in driving simulations significantly reduced mean vehicle speeds and increased speed limit compliance at the S.U. Samuel Adams school zone compared to existing conditions.

Methodology

simulator

Provenance

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Summary generated by qwen3.6-27b-prismaquant on 2026-06-10; verification: verified.

Topics

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• work zones
• child pedestrian
• rail grade crossings
• perceptual countermeasures

Information type

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• Empirical Findings: observational prevalence