Bill > H531

This bill authorizes cities and towns to establish "senior citizen safety zones," which are designated areas near facilities serving seniors, such as senior housing, hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, or community centers where senior activities regularly occur. Local governing bodies, like city councils or boards of selectmen, can create these zones following their established procedures for traffic regulations. Within these zones, authorities can reduce speed limits to a minimum of 20 miles per hour (or lower, similar to school zones) and implement traffic control measures like signals and signs to enhance safety for senior citizens. The state traffic engineer must be notified when a zone is established or when speed limits are reduced on local roads. This provision does not apply to state highways or major arterial roads. The bill also amends existing laws to include senior citizen safety zones alongside school zones when discussing speed limits and traffic regulations.