The Seattle Police Department is watching school zones, when children are present, and aggressively enforcing the 20 mph speed limit. If you are traveling more twice that fast you should understand the facts about avoiding an accident. Stopping distance at 40 mph can be as much as 120 feet (40 feet of "thinking distance" or your reaction time and 80 feet of actual distance with the brakes applied). Even at 30 mph the full stopping distance can be 75 feet. The distance will vary of course based on grade, weather, and the condition of your brakes and tires and weight of your vehicle but as a rule of thumb these distances apply.

Here's the latest on their enforcement effort:

From the Seattle Police Blotter - Posted by Detective Renee Witt

On October 25th and 26th the Aggressive Driver Response Team conducted traffic enforcement in the following locations.

10/25/11

School Zone Speed Enforcement – 20 mph zone

Arbor Heights Elementary

1 at 38 mph

1 at 33 mph

2 at 32 mph

1 No Proof of Insurance

Roxhill Elementary

1 at 41 mph

1 at 33 mph

1 at 29 mph

Holy Family Elementary

2 at 33 mph

1 at 31 mph

1 at 29 mph

10-26-11

West Seattle Bridge – 45 mph zone

1 at 68 mph

SW Admiral Way – 30 mph zone

1 at 54 mph

Our Lady of Guadalupe

1 at 36 mph

1 at 34 mph

1 at 32 mph

1 at 31 mph

African American Academy

1 at 34 mph

1 at 29 mph

1 at 28 mph