Speeding remains widespread near schools, and one measure cuts it

More than one in three professional drivers speed on roads near schools, according to a new Folksam study, and the average violation carries a sharply higher risk of a fatal crash.

Folksam’s measurements found that 37 percent of professional drivers exceeded the limit near schools. Their average excess speed was 4.8 kilometers per hour, or 16 percent above the limit. Folksam says that level represents an almost doubled risk of a fatal accident.

“

We see that speed compliance is worse at low speeds, at 30 to 40 kilometers per hour.

The problem was particularly visible at lower speed limits. “We see that speed compliance is worse at low speeds, at 30 to 40 kilometers per hour,” said Anders Kullgren, Folksam’s head of research. Drivers may believe that going 5 to 10 kilometers per hour over a 30-kilometer limit makes little difference, he said, but people are poor at understanding the risks associated with speed.

Researchers conducted nearly 6,000 laser-gun measurements at school environments across Sweden and examined which traffic-calming measures affected speeds. Only speed humps had a noticeable effect. Lane narrowings and traffic islands produced no major reduction, while speeds were even higher at sites with traffic islands than at sites without such measures.

“

The other measures, when there is a narrowing or traffic islands, show no major reduction. Where there are traffic islands, speeds were even higher than without a measure. So it is the speed humps that produce the major effects.

Speed humps were absent from most measurement locations. Of the 5,973 measurements conducted in school environments during 2025 and spring 2026, just over 600 took place where speed humps existed. Courier vans and taxis were among the vehicles most often caught speeding, while tow trucks also stood out negatively. Kullgren said employers have an important responsibility and must not pressure drivers to speed to meet deadlines.

Speeding was less common near schools than on other roads with limits of 40 kilometers per hour or lower, occurring in 37 percent of school-area measurements compared with 57 percent elsewhere. Serious violations occurred in 5 percent of school-area measurements, compared with 13 percent on comparable roads. Yet the violations recorded near schools were more severe, making school environments the riskiest locations in the analysis.

“

They must not pressure them to speed so that they can meet deadlines.