Protect Our Students Act
Summary
What This Bill Does
The Protect Our Students Act responds to school zone crash risk by amending title 23 highway safety programs. It adds school zone traffic incidents to the section 402 highway safety program language, directs the Secretary of Transportation to clarify that school zone safety uses may include crossing guards, flashing lights and beacons, visible signs and markings, crosswalks, traffic calming, pedestrian islands, traffic lights, school zone audits and assessments, automated traffic enforcement, and Safe Routes to School non-infrastructure work, and increases the state allocation share of highway safety funds from 40 percent to 50 percent. The findings cite roughly 100 student deaths and 25,000 student injuries each year while walking to or from school.
Who Benefits and How
Students benefit from safer walking and biking conditions around schools. State highway safety offices and local transportation agencies benefit from clearer authority and a larger state allocation share. Schools and communities benefit from eligible uses such as crossing guards, traffic calming, school zone audits, automated enforcement, and Safe Routes to School activities.
Who Bears the Burden and How
DOT rulemaking staff must issue regulations clarifying eligible uses. State highway safety offices must plan and administer a larger funding allocation. Local agencies may need to design, procure, install, and maintain safety improvements. Drivers may face more automated enforcement, traffic calming, and school-zone controls.
Key Provisions
- Expands highway safety program language to cover traffic incidents in school zones.
- Directs DOT regulations identifying school zone safety improvements eligible under section 402.
- Authorizes uses such as crossing guards, flashing beacons, crosswalks, pedestrian islands, audits, automated enforcement, and Safe Routes to School work.
- Increases the state allocation share of highway safety funds from 40 percent to 50 percent.
Evidence Chain:
This summary is generated from the full bill text using AI analysis. Expand "Detailed Analysis" below for identified beneficiaries/burden bearers with clause-level evidence links.
At a Glance
What This Bill Does
Clarifies that federal highway safety program funds may be used for school zone traffic safety, directs DOT regulations listing eligible safety improvements, and increases the state allocation share from 40 percent to 50 percent.
Key Policy Areas
Transportation, Education, Public Safety
Primary Purpose
Clarifies that federal highway safety program funds may be used for school zone traffic safety, directs DOT regulations listing eligible safety improvements, and increases the state allocation share from 40 percent to 50 percent.
Policy Domains
Substantive provisions
Identified Gains
- Students
- State highway safety offices
- Local transportation agencies
- Schools
- Communities
Identified Costs
- DOT rulemaking staff
- State highway safety offices
- Local public works agencies
- Drivers
Sponsors
Legislative Progress
In CommitteeReferred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
Ms. Titus introduced the following bill; which was referred to …
Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
Introduced in House
Impact analysis is available but no clear stakeholder effects identified. View clause-level analysis →
Bill Structure & Actor Mappings
Who is "The Secretary" in each section?
We use a combination of our own taxonomy and classification in addition to large language models to assess meaning and potential beneficiaries. High confidence means strong textual evidence. Always verify with the original bill text.
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