School areaColombia

An introduction to the traffic rules and road signs of Colombia. Learn about driving, road safety and much more in our illustrated book, with answers to frequently asked questions.

For informational purposes only. Always follow official regulations. Some content and images were created with AI assistance.


7. School area

A school area is a road or group of roads near a school where large numbers of children may walk, cycle, cross the road or enter and leave vehicles. It may be identified by warning signs, zone signs, road markings, traffic-calming measures or flashing lights.

Special speed limits, parking restrictions or access rules may apply permanently or only during school arrival and departure times. Drivers should reduce speed, watch carefully for children and be prepared to stop.

School area
School-zone warning sign in Comuneros. (Cúcuta, Colombia)
Wikimedia.org • EEIM • CC BY-SA
What speed rules apply around schools in Colombia?

Colombia’s national maximum in school and residential zones is 30 km/h. Follow any lower restriction imposed and signed by the responsible authority.

🔗 cancilleria.gov.co • Colombian National Traffic Code — Articles 63, 74 and 106, ordinary school 30 and safety obligations

🔗 transmilenio.gov.co • Ministry of Transport — Manual de Señalización Vial de Colombia 2024, relevant signs and chapter provisions; 2025 errata checked where material

Does a school warning sign in Colombia automatically set the speed limit?

A children or school warning alerts you to a potential hazard; the enforceable numerical speed limit depends on the applicable law, regulatory signs and any time or variable display. Slow further if children are near the road.

🔗 cancilleria.gov.co • Colombian National Traffic Code — Articles 63, 74 and 106, ordinary school 30 and safety obligations

🔗 transmilenio.gov.co • Ministry of Transport — Manual de Señalización Vial de Colombia 2024, relevant signs and chapter provisions; 2025 errata checked where material

Warning for children. Warning for children.

English • Traffic sign SP-47 · family • School zone. A school and possible pupils are nearby. Reduce speed and pay particular attention to pedestrians. The drawing is a yellow diamond; the current manual shows a fluorescent yellow-green pentagonal school sign. The family is identified without claiming this design complies.

Español • SP-47 · familia • Zona escolar. Advierte la proximidad de una escuela y la posible presencia de escolares. Reduce la velocidad y presta especial atención a los peatones. El dibujo es un rombo amarillo. El manual vigente muestra una señal escolar pentagonal de amarillo verde fluorescente; se identifica la familia Zona escolar, sin afirmar conformidad de este diseño.

How should you pass a school entrance in Colombia?

Watch for children stepping out from between parked vehicles, obey crossings and any school patrol, and follow stopping or parking restrictions. Do not obstruct visibility near a crossing or school entrance; approach at a speed that permits a safe stop.

🔗 cancilleria.gov.co • Colombian National Traffic Code — Articles 63, 74 and 106, ordinary school 30 and safety obligations

🔗 transmilenio.gov.co • Ministry of Transport — Manual de Señalización Vial de Colombia 2024, relevant signs and chapter provisions; 2025 errata checked where material

1 Colombia 2 Speed limit 3 Pedestrian warning 4 Slope 5 Bus stop 6 Stop sign 7 School area 8 Crossing animals 9 Traffic lights 10 Reversing 11 Cyclist 12 Bus 13 Police 14 Ambulance 15 Pothole 16 Path 17 Particulates 18 Air pollution 19 Rush hour 20 Road code 21 Street gutter 22 Cargo bike 23 Forestry vehicle 24 Construction vehicle 25 Semi-trailer truck 26 Trolleybus 27 Speed pedelec 28 Delivery vehicle 29 Idling 30 Tow truck 31 Four-wheel drive 32 Bicycle 33 Motorcycle equipment 34 Rail track 35 Caravan 36 Trailer 37 Tow hitch 38 Fire truck 39 Siren 40 Convoy 41 Emergency vehicle lighting 42 Agricultural machinery 43 Electric bicycle 44 Electric vehicle 45 Pedelec 46 Quadricycle 47 Microcar 48 All-terrain vehicle 49 Van 50 Recreational vehicle 51 Scooter 52 Trikke 53 Personal mobility device 54 Skateboard 55 Segway 56 Kick scooter 57 Roller skates 58 Mailman 59 Hitchhiker 60 Toddler 61 Child 62 Disability 63 Motorail 64 km/h 65 mph 66 Speedometer 67 Ride height 68 Dirt road 69 Driving 70 Start-stop system 71 Manual transmission 72 Automatic transmission 73 Throttle 74 Tachometer 75 Steering wheel 76 Power steering 77 Visual scanning 78 Mirror 79 Fuel 80 Fuel gauge 81 Petrol 82 Diesel 83 Diesel exhaust fluid 84 Car insurance 85 First aid kit 86 Fire extinguisher 87 High-visibility clothing 88 First aid 89 Concrete step barrier 90 Barriers 91 Vehicle lights 92 Street lights 93 Dipped beam 94 High beam 95 Fog lights 96 Front fog lights 97 Rear fog lights 98 Side lights 99 Turn signals 100 Hazard lights ...