Nearly a year after a vehicle hit a student, speed zones will go up near Seminole Ridge High School

LOXAHATCHEE, Fla. - The speed limit was 45 mph, but once school starts at Seminole Ridge High School in August, the speed limit will be 20 mph or drivers could pay double the fine. 

"Mostly for the walkers that live within two miles that have to walk...don't have bus transportation I'm happy," Karen Keogh said.  "I think it's giving every opportunity to come here and be safe."

Three students have been hit on the road, which is why Keogh has been fighting for the zones.  While she has been fighting, not everyone has been in her corner, she said. 

"I have received a little bit of hate mail absolutely," she said. "It takes them (drivers) longer to get to work, the traffic doesn't move as quickly, but in reality that's what the speed zone signs are there for.  We want you to slow down."

Palm Beach County Traffic Director Dan Weisberg says it will cost about $12,000 to install the speed zones outside of each school slated for the equipment.  Normally, he said, they wouldn't install lights outside of high schools.

"We traditionally have not done them at high schools whereas elementary schools are much younger children don't have the same traffic coping skills as the older children have," he said.

Weisberg said they will be installing them at John I. Leonard High School and West Boca Raton High School as well.

"In West Boca the school board members thought it was a good place to have school flashers though there were no accidents," Weisberg added.

Whether it's the proactive or reactive approach, Keogh hopes the zones bring safety for students.

The zones for West Boca Raton High School and Seminole Ridge High School will be in place by the start of the school year, but there isn't an exact time table yet on John I. Leonard High School in Greenacres, Weisberg said.