City of Alexandria
Those speed cameras in select school zones in the city of Alexandria are working so well that city officials are considering adding more.
The speed zone cameras, which are only one when students are arriving to and leaving school, capture license plates of anyone traveling more than 15 mph. The program started in the fall of 2023.
There are an average of 4,800 speed zone violation tickets issued per month at $100 per ticket, officials noted in a joint School Board-City Council meeting in September. The data was based on tickets issued between October 2023 and March 2024.
More importantly, the program is resulting in an overall reduction of speed near the schools. (George Washington Middle School's speed zone saw a very slight increase in average speed in the afternoon hours.)
Most of the tickets went to speeders on Seminary Road, outside of Hammond Middle School. The second most tickets were issued on Beauregard Street, outside of John Adams and Ferdinand Day elementary schools.
City officials are considering adding more signage before the speed cameras to give drivers more warning that they need to slow down. About 82% of tickets issued were to people who live outside of the City of Alexandria.
The most tickets in that period were issued in October (while drivers were getting used to the program) and January (after drivers had a ‘break’ from the cameras over winter vacation).
City officials are considering adding four more school zone speed camera programs in the coming months.
