School signs · S5-1
School Speed Limit When Flashing sign
Archive file: S05-01 School Speed Limit XX When Flashing/S05-01 School Speed Limit XX When Flashing 24x48.svg
FHWA public-use information
What it means
The displayed school speed limit applies while the beacon flashes.
Source: FHWA MUTCD — MUTCD 11th Edition with Revision 1 (December 2025), Section 7B.05, paragraph 08, PDF page 1021.
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Meaning
School Speed Limit When Flashing ties a reduced limit to an operating beacon. Read the displayed number and the condition together. Federal standards use the beacon to identify when that school speed limit is active; the sign does not establish one nationwide school-zone speed.
What to do
Follow the state-specific limit when its stated condition applies. Pennsylvania’s handbook specifies 15 mph during flashing yellow signals or the posted periods. Oregon’s school speed zone uses 20 mph and explains that its flashing yellow light signals children arriving or leaving. These are separate state examples, not interchangeable numbers.
Where it is used
Federal standards put the school speed assembly at, or close to, the beginning of the reduced-speed zone. A School warning precedes it on the approach. The speed sign therefore identifies where the special limit begins; the earlier warning gives you time to prepare for the school context.
A sign to tell apart
The School warning panel identifies an area, zone or crossing context. The flashing speed assembly adds a numerical limit and an activation condition. Recognizing a school symbol is not enough to choose a speed; read the speed panel and the condition that makes it effective.
Practice with explanations
These are original learning questions based on the cited handbooks. Read each answer and its explanation below.
1. Under the Pennsylvania handbook’s school-zone guidance, what is the maximum speed when the yellow school signals flash?
- 15 mph.
- 20 mph.
- 25 mph.
Answer: A. 15 mph.
Pennsylvania’s cited school-zone rule sets 15 mph for the flashing-signal condition. Do not substitute another state’s school-zone number.
2. Oregon’s handbook defines its signed school speed zone at what reduced speed?
- 15 mph.
- 20 mph.
- 30 mph.
Answer: B. 20 mph.
The cited Oregon school speed zone is 20 mph. The same sign family can carry a different state’s number.
State source coverage
Handbook coverage and sample questions do not prove that a sign will appear on your exam. Even a published test scope cannot guarantee an individual exam question.
No state test-scope claim is independently approved for this study.
State variations
The checked handbooks give different school-zone speeds: Pennsylvania specifies 15 mph for its flashing-signal or posted-period rule; Oregon defines a 20 mph school speed zone. Read the local sign and its activation condition. The illustration is a sign-family example, not a universal number.
Verified question coverage
These free state-bank questions were independently verified. This does not establish complete state-bank readiness, app availability or what will appear on your permit exam.
No currently verified state-bank question is available for this sign.
The linked 20-question permit quizzes do not currently include this sign.
This meaning is a federal MUTCD reference. Check your state's handbook for its rules and sign coverage; this page does not establish what appears on a state permit exam.
Try the free road sign quiz or find your state's handbook.
