News Summary
As students prepare to return to school, Rhode Island drivers are reminded to follow reduced speed limits in school zones. Starting September 3, municipalities with school zone speed cameras will ramp up enforcement efforts. Six municipalities currently use these cameras, including Providence and Newport. Schools enforce strict speed limits from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on school days, with fines for speeding exceeding the limit. Community members are encouraged to comply with traffic regulations for student safety.
Providence, Rhode Island – As students prepare to return to school, drivers in Rhode Island are reminded to observe reduced speed limits in school zones to ensure the safety of children. Starting September 3, Providence and other municipalities with school zone speed cameras will ramp up enforcement to help protect students as they head back to class.
According to state law, school zone speed cameras can be set up within a quarter-mile radius of any school. Six municipalities currently utilize these cameras: Providence, Pawtucket, Central Falls, Warwick, Newport, and East Providence. Providence alone has 19 active school zone camera locations, while Pawtucket manages 17. Central Falls has recently implemented seven speed cameras within a one-square-mile area to reinforce safety measures.
The General Assembly established the framework for school zone speed cameras in 2016, allowing cities to enhance traffic enforcement in areas adjacent to schools. Prior to this, cities had the authority to install cameras for red light violations starting in 2005. While school zone camera operations are restricted to the hours of 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on school days only, drivers should be aware that fines for speeding can be significant. Most municipalities impose fines on drivers who exceed the speed limit by 11 mph or more in designated school zones.
Newport, which anticipates an influx of students when classes begin on September 2, has recently installed a new speed camera on Admiral Kalbfus Road. This new addition complements the city’s ongoing efforts to enhance school zone safety. The Newport Police Department has announced plans for targeted patrols and radar checks to monitor school zones as students return to class, with a strict speed limit of 20 mph enforced during posted hours, Monday through Friday.
In Providence, the speed cameras will activate simultaneously with the reopening of schools on September 3. Drivers caught exceeding the speed limit by more than 10 mph will face a $50 fine. This measure was implemented following public backlash, which led Providence lawmakers to cap speeding fines in school zones to ensure equitable enforcement.
Warwick has also joined this initiative, having launched its automated traffic enforcement program in 2025, which includes school zone cameras to bolster safety. The collaboration among municipalities reflects a unified approach to reduce speeding during critical hours when children are arriving at or leaving from school.
The overarching goal of these speed cameras and enhanced enforcement measures across Rhode Island is to create a safer environment for students during the return to school. By adhering to speed limits in school zones, drivers can help protect the well-being of children and ensure a smooth transition back to learning activities.
As students across the state prepare to enter classrooms, community members are encouraged to remain attentive and compliant with traffic regulations as part of a collective effort to promote safety in school zones.
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Additional Resources
- What’s Up Newp
- Wikipedia: School Zone
- WPRI
- Google Search: School Zone Speed Cameras Rhode Island
- Turn to 10
- Google Scholar: Traffic Safety in School Zones
- Warwick Online
- Encyclopedia Britannica: School Zone Traffic Enforcement
- ABC6
- Google News: School Zone Traffic Enforcement
Author: STAFF HERE PROVIDENCE WRITER
PROVIDENCE STAFF WRITER The PROVIDENCE STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREProvidence.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Providence, Providence County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as WaterFire, Rhode Island International Film Festival, and Rhode Island Comic Con. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce and Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau, plus leading businesses in finance and manufacturing that power the local economy such as Citizens Financial Group and Textron. As part of the broader HERE network, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Rhode Island's dynamic landscape.
