Croton Back-to-School Reminders: Speed Limit Lowered, Buses Return

CROTON-ON-HUDSON, NY — With the opening of the 2023-24 school year on Tuesday, officials in Croton-on-Hudson reminds drivers to be mindful of speed limits, school buses and kids walking and cycling.

Village residents are still getting accustomed to the 5-mile drop in the speed limit on many village roads.

Earlier this year, the Board of Trustees lowered the speed limit on most village roadways from 30 to 25 mph. They acted after receiving a traffic study conducted by DTS Provident in accordance with the new state law.

"There are many studies that document that the main advantage of lowering the travel speed of a vehicle is that the chance of survival and reduced injury severity, particularly to a pedestrian, is significantly higher if a person, or vehicle, is hit at by a vehicle traveling at a lower speed. Thus, maintaining lower travel speeds, especially in areas where there may be pedestrians, is important," the consultants said in the study. "However, there have also been many studies that show that changing the speed limit of a roadway in and of itself does not have a significant impact on the actual travel speeds that drivers are doing on certain roadways. Drivers tend to drive at speeds that they feel comfortable with."

Exceptions to the new 25 mph speed limit include all state roadways (such as Route 129) as well as South Riverside and Croton Point avenues.

"It is noted that NY Route 129 already has a 15 mph difference at the Village Line, dropping from 45 mph in the Town of Cortlandt to 30 mph in the Village. This is a large drop. If the Village is to eventually to petition the State to go to 25 mph on NY Route 129, it would become a drop of 20 mph, or 44%. Thus, it is not likely that the State would permit this large of a drop in speed limit," the study said.

School zones have even lower speeds. Village officials ask drivers to be extra cautious in school speed zones along Gerstein Street, Glen Place, Hughes Street, Larkin Place and Maple Street.

Remember, speed limits in those zones between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. on school days are 15 mph except for Maple Street, where the limit is 20 mph.

Also, be prepared to stop, on both sides of the street, for school buses with flashing red lights as required by the New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law. This applies even for streets with dividers or islands such as Benedict Boulevard.

Drivers should be extra alert and cautious as there will also be students walking and riding their bicycles to and from school.

SEE ALSO:

• Back To School: Croton-Harmon 2023-24 School Calendar
• U.S. News Releases 'Best High Schools': Croton Harmon, Ossining Ranked
• School Officials Should Review COVID Guidance As Year Starts
• Back To School: Tips To Protect Croton, Ossining Kids, Prevent Scams