When are school speed limit signs considered active?

School speed limit signs are considered active when flashing lights are on. This signaling indicates that the school zone is in effect, typically during times when students are arriving or leaving school. The flashing lights alert drivers to reduce their speed to ensure the safety of children who may be walking to or from school or waiting at bus stops. This mechanism for activating school speed limits helps create an environment that prioritizes the safety of students during critical times, rather than having a blanket reduction in speed at all times. Other options, while they may suggest periods of lower speed limits, do not function with the same clarity and immediate visual alert that flashing lights provide.