School Zones???

More importantly -- is this something I need to periodically update?

I've seen this mentioned once before.

This almost certainly won't be a custom POI you loaded with POI Loader since it'd require you to have loaded a school zone csv or gpx file and an icon. You'd certainly remember having done this, I'd think.

I'd love to hear which Garmin GPS models have this built in.

One more thing. I'd like to know from you folks who get these school zone alerts: are they quite complete or do you find that you can pass many school zones and not be alerted? If the built in alerts are limited in the number of school zones offered, I can direct folks on using files from here at The Factory to set up a quasi-school-zone Custom POI complete with icon and audio warning.

Very interesting. Your model's owners manual:

http://static.garmincdn.com/pumac/dezl_560_OM.pdf

states in the index that page 75 talks of the "school zone database" yet I'm unable to find any mention of this other than in the Index. My guess is that your model has and uses this school zone database even though the owners manual has forgotten to mention it.

Further "aha!"

Check the description of what updates are available at extra cost with a nuLinks subscription:

http://www8.garmin.com/automotive/nuLink_services/

Scroll down to nuLinks store for Saftey Camera Alerts which includes school zones. Does your dezl offer nuLink? As far as I can tell, nuLink isn't offered for your dezl, so I'll quit trying to figure it out--I'm confused...

No, the Dezl doesn't offer NuLink -- AFAIK. Doesn't that require a 3G connection???

It was also odd that, only half an hour to an hour later, when I went through the same school zone going the other way, I didn't get an alert. I'm assuming that it was then AFTER the published school zone effective hours.

Maybe it came in on the traffic receiver -- anybody know?

Wow, now I'd really like to know how this occurs, what models offer it, and how complete the database is.

If School Zone alerts only occur during school hours, that'd be a wonderful thing to have.

I wonder if your thought of it arriving via Traffic Receiver is the answer. (If true, that'd rule out school zone alerts in rural areas with no traffic coverage. Also if a traffic bonus, would they occur with only Navteq, only ClearChannel, or for both?) In any event, Garmin isn't making it easy to figure this out based on their manuals and their web offerings.

The only school zone POI file I've come across so far was massively lacking. And then to add it just during school hours - that would truly be the icing on the cake.
To good to be true?

If you want school zone alerts, I can offer one using files available here at The Factory. The only shortcoming to my method is that you have to choose either:

-false positive alerts, or

-very short notice alerts.

And as you suggest, my method will give alerts 24/7/365.25.

I can offer this much -- I've only ever seen it this one time, and I was within range of the traffic broadcasts from Albuquerque. I have both subscriptions on my traffic receiver. Maybe this is the answer. Sure was a surprise!

I would use this file. School zone fine here in AZ is $275 or more, + maximum points on license, IIRC.

* It's a flip between the false positives or short notices? I'll let other members weigh in with their preferences.
Or, whatever would be easier for you to code Craig.

* Can deal with 24/7 alerts.

Thank You M8!

My "school zone" poi:

First, download the Schools POI file from The Factory with its 170,258 schools:

http://www.poi-factory.com/node/17

Unzip the file and use the csv as you would any other Custom POI.

Rename the file to include TourGuide; i.e.:

Schools_TourGuide.csv

Download an icon and audio file from The Factory and rename each to: Schools_TourGuide.bmp, and Schools_TourGuide.wav (or if your nuvi can handle it, Schools_TourGuide.mp3).

Load to your GPS with POI Loader in manual mode and set an alert distance for the Schools_TourGuide file. I use 550 feet. I find that if I use a larger value, I get false positive alerts for schools on adjacent streets parallel to me. You can tinker with this setting but for me 550-600' is what works best for me.

Make sure that alerts are turned on with your GPS, then either take your GPS out for a drive or run a simulation past some schools and see if you get alerts.

For beginners, I do NOT recommend starting with this Custom POI installation. I assume folks trying this are already familiar with POI Loader in manual mode, familiar with installing bmp icons and audio (remembering that wav files and sox.exe are required for most new nuvis, while mp3 can be used on several older nuvis), and understand the special nature of TourGuide compared to other POI files. For those needing help, a search through The Factory's FAQs and message archive is where you need to start, then come back and ask questions as needed.

Why TourGuides? With this schools POI file, the locations identified are the actual school buildings which are oftentimes set back quite a ways from the roadways, meaning that driving past the school will not result in a GPS alert. As an approximation of School Zone locations, using the Schools file as a TourGuide with a 550' distance will set a radius large enough to include the streets adjacent to the school and will offer an alert. I find in general that I get an alert about 50-100 feet before I see most schools' 15mph School Zone warning signs. I'd love more of a warning but that increases the number of false positive alerts.

Note on the Schools POI file: 1) the file is USA only, 2) the file is a zip and needs to be unzipped, 3) the description states that changes are made to this file 1-2 times a year although I suspect it's much less frequent that that, 4) The Schools POI file does not appear on your "My Favorite Files" list at The Factory so you need to check it on occasion for updates, and 5) there's no indication of revision dates so you almost need to download the file every now and then and see if the file size is different than the one you're currently using. If different, it's time to install the newer version--if not, then you can keep using the older one already installed to your GPS.

There we go, clear as mud now?

Do you know where we get this file from? It would be great that if we find missing, or incorrect data we could send updates to the originator so we can do as we do on this site. (get the most up to date data).

I'm clueless, so we'd need to ask JM or GlobeTurtle about the source.

As I stated above, this file is rarely updated. It's possible that the file has remained unchanged in my 4 years here at The Factory.

It would also be great if the file's description pages states the latest revision date and that it be included in each users "My Favorite Files" list so that it'd be easier to determine when we need to re-download the file.

CraigW offers accurate and useful advice. Here in Winnipeg the city is moving to reduce speeds in school zones. Accordingly I created a Winnipeg School zone .csv file (posted here on POIF) and load it as TourGuide. In my case I use an alert distance of 190meters. TourGuide offer the best coverage for as CraigW states, many schools are offset from the street but speed limits will still apply.

Good posting CraigW.

The time and effort put into your detailed post is noticed and appreciated - Thank You!

Got it installed and working perfectly.

Thank you again for the help!

One bright sunny summer Sunday afternoon, I cruised through a school zone here on Long Island. I was summarily pulled over by a police officer. He told me that unless the zone was accompanied by a flashing light/"obey during" signal, the the reduced speed was in effect 24/7/365. That's a good thing to know. I figured (read assumed) that they were only in effect during school days. I was wrong...

Good thread to read, thanks for the info.

This is good to know.

And now that I see your windmill, I suggest you install the redlight and speed camera's POIs unless you've already done it:

http://www.poi-factory.com/poifiles/us/red-light-cameras

They were the first POI's that I installed.

The schools file at http://www.poi-factory.com/poifiles/us/schools is based on data from USGS.

This page has FAQs pertaining to their update process: http://geonames.usgs.gov/domestic/faqs.htm

Jonathan

Yeesh, that's as nonsensical as the 15mph speed limit here in Arizona. It's 15mph ALL DAY, even when there isn't a child in sight. Everybody that should be in school is, with nary a child in sight. Yet we have to slow down to 15mph. And the fines out here are real stiff.

The good news, at least here in northern AZ, is that most of these school zones' signs are not permanent, but are rolled out when schools are in session and rolled out of view outside of school hours and for holidays/weekends, etc.

We have a few here with flashing lights ... BUT ... it appears that no one knows how to set the time clock on a few of them locally. They are sometimes on around 4 AM or 10 AM but not while the students are on their way into the school.

Works the same way way in the Phoenix area.

creating a school zone file would be a lot of work, but very useful. You have me thinking.

I was in Los Lunas again today, and got the school zone warning again, but at a different location. I immediately checked the traffic info and found nothing to indicate this warning is coming from the traffic receiver. Is this possibly in the red light camera file???

https://www.dot.ny.gov/about-nysdot/faq/posting-speed-limit-...

If there is not a flashing light and sign that says "In effect when flashing" or other specific hours, the school zone is only only in effect from 7am to 6pm school days.

Schools are now open, we gotta be careful

I don't get the "save file as" option when right-clicking on an audio file. All I get is "save link" and a few others.

How do I download an audio file?

is what I use.

Great Idea. All should slow down in school zones and not use their cellphones at all.

the school zone warning and rr crossing,dangerous curve ahead and manymore can be downloaded from phantom alert.

Ours are free and theirs are not.
http://www.getphantomalert.com/

It's still good to have as a reminder in case you are in unfamiliar territory. With school starting up I'm sure a lot of places are gearing up to write tickets. There's a high school I drive by on the way to work, and while I haven't seen any police there over the course of the summer I've seen 2 police cars there since school got back in session.

I wonder if this is connected -- http://www.poi-factory.com/node/37674#comment-303581

I tough those icon and alert near school zone are part of the new map update , or maybe are traffic?