The speed limit on 5th Street along Peter Howell Elementary School is 30 miles per hour.
Twice a day, the speed limit drops to 15 miles per hour at Irving Drive where a crosswalk leads to a neighborhood.
Most drivers slow down for the school zone, but it isn’t hard to find drivers who don’t.
Our 9 On Your Side Investigation discovered multiple drivers going through the area at 3-5 mph above the limit. One SUV zipped up to the crosswalk at more than 35 mph before hitting the brakes.
“It doesn’t happen very often but when it does I just want to go, 'Hello, was this covered on your driving test?'”
Gary the crossing guard is fed up.
Gary, who didn’t want us to use his last name, says despite the signs, crosswalk lights, his vest, and even people in the crosswalk some drivers still break the speed limit in this school zone.
Families who walk their kids to and from school say they’re worried about an accident.
“All the time,” said Ray Lugo who walks his nephew home from school.
“That's why I crossed with him right now. Even with the red lights it doesn't mean they are going to stop.”
The people who work here and parents who walk their children home from school say they haven't seen anybody get hurt or even a close call but still they fear letting their guard down, and they want all drivers to slow down in the school zone.
“I get worried sometimes because I’ll have a car go through here and a kid will be in the middle of crossing and the car will still go through.”
According to Tucson Police this area has one of the highest rates of school zone speeding.
People who live here admit this problem isn’t likely to ever completely disappear, but they just hope more drivers see these signs and get the message.
