Assessing the Compatibility of Traffic Safety Elements in School Zones in Sabratha City A Descriptive, Analytical, and Comparative Study with International Standards

Abstract

This This study aims to evaluate the extent to which road safety elements surrounding five schools in the city of Sabratha comply with international and local standards, based on the guidelines of the Federal Highway Administration and the standards of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. The findings reveal a normative gap reflected in inadequate design-based speed control, insufficient pedestrian protection, and the absence of functional separation between through traffic and school-related drop-off activities. The study emphasizes that the underlying risk is more strongly associated with roadway design than with user behavior, highlighting the need to adopt engineering interventions grounded in Safe System principles to enhance the safety of the school environment.