Garmin built in School zones/Rest stops

I recently purchased a 2555 LM and it had a built-in category for Rest Areas. An icon appeared on the screen as we approached a government-run rest area on the I-15. Interestingly, it did not display the Public/Private ones operated in gas stations. They only appeared if I selected Gas Stations.

My Garmin 660 and 3790 do not have a built-in Rest Areas file. I downloaded that from the POI Factory, and it includes the P3 locations.

I wish there was a way of setting a time range for the alerts. Because of when I leave from work to go home, I believe the latest they'll trigger is prior to 5pm. Not sure what time they begin triggering in the afternoon and I don't know about the morning hours because I leave too early from home.

You might want to read this thread:

http://www.poi-factory.com/node/37674

Garmin has a wonderful time of day school zone feature that works with many nuvi models, but right now it seems limited to a tiny number of schools in Louisiana and it never seemed to be further implemented. If checking out the thread, you really need to read pretty much all three pages of it to get a feeling for what's going on.

Craig

I got school zone alert in VA and FL.Not sure just how limited it is.Both were on back roads.Plan to test more in FL now that I am doing more in town driving instead of interstate.

That's good to hear the built-in school zones may be expanding.

But are your VA/FL school zones like the LA ones where the speed limit drops to 15/20mph during school hours and is higher during non-school hours? That was the amazing part of rame1012's discovery from the other thread.

I'll have to look into mine, I have the 2595.

My 2597 LMT got School Zone alerts while travelling in Clarksville TN, Chattanooga TN, and Rossville GA. Assumed this was just something that was added with the newest breed of GPS devices as I've had an old school 5 year old GPS until recently.

Also, adding onto what I just stated, I received the alerts late at night so it wasn't time oriented (only isolated to school hours).

I emailed Garmin support to get some info on the school zones.

Thank you for contacting Garmin International.

The school zone alert feature is a relatively new feature that has been implemented in Garmin's newest automotive models. Your device has data for most school zones in major metropolitan areas, however not every school zone may be covered. This data is built into the mapping file and is updated along with the map data when you download map updates to your device.

FAQ they linked with it.

Why am I receiving School Zone alerts on my device?

There may be times when you will see a School Zone alert display on your device even when it is not during school zone hours. They will display as an orange indicator and will appear under the following circumstances:

During the posted school zone hours, if those hours are known (included in the map data).

Weekdays between 7am-5pm, if specific school zone hours are NOT known (NOT included in the map data).

Currently, not all school zone hours are listed for known school zones. Also, the devices are not able to disable the school zone alerts.

Very nice. Thanks for the work and info.

Does it work like an "Along the route alert?" That is: If you stop & start in the zone, will it sound again?

Does anyone know which new Garmin GPS have the school and rest stops built in?

Has anyone noticed this feature working in Canada yet?

Not something I'vee seen on my Garmin... intersting.

I tired the downloadable school zone POI from the factory on my 2460LMT and found it to be pretty annoying, at least in the city where there is a school every couple blocks.

With the built in alerts, is there a way to turn off the alert for specific poi's?

I sent your question back to Garmin on reply to my email.Plus wanted to know what location they used for the alert. This is what I got back.Not exactly what I was looking for though.

Thank you for contacting Garmin International. I will be happy to help you. I haven't been able to use this feature and I found limited information on it but I believe once you have passed the zone it will not sound again unless you pass by again. Usually the building is where the point of interest is marked on the map. I hope you continue to enjoy this feature and we can continue to have it.

The built in rest stops have been around for a while.Don't have my Nuvi 265 with me but believe they were under transportation. On the 2597 it has icon for it under categories.Most members use the Rest Stop file here for custom pois http://www.poi-factory.com/node/6643 .It is more up to date.

Just a short search on Garmin Products that have School Zone alerts. https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/cOnTheRoad-cAutomotive-p1.ht... it appears at least these models have it 3597,2457,2458,2497,2498,2557,2558,2577,2597,2598,2757 and 2797 .If others have it please post.

During my travels so far around FL.I have been getting the school zone alerts for all that I have came to.Haven't passed one yet when the lights are flashing .Been times outside the school zone hours.

Just did a side-by-side comparison of 3597 and 2495 on school-zone alert.

On approach, the 3597 showed the audio and visual alerts as posted by other members. It also showed the speed limit change, from 35 to 25.

Nothing showed up on the 2595.

P.S. The School zone list is still quite sparse. We have around 10 elementary/middle/high schools in my neighborhood.
Driving around shows only one of them has made it to the school zone list.

So many kids now walking biking along the streets in the morning and when the schools days are over. Be careful everybody with our precious next generations.

Simple good old paying attention is still the best protection.

Thanks, I've been waiting to hear about it. It sounds like I still need my Custom POI Factory pseudo-school-zone POI TourGuide but it's good to know that some day, the built-in Garmin feature may be functional enough to avoid the need for a Custom POI.

I guessed I am lucky.

Do you have a 2595? I'm asking because mine (2595) is silent for school zones as well, but I could have sworn some folks here and there in different parts of the country have posted that theirs gave them alerts. I'm in MA and when these first started appearing it seemed to be a regional thing. Very strange.

I also got them in VA and in the area of FL I am in now.Have been alerted for every one in the area so far.Plenty of school zones here to test by.Have not went through one during school hours yet.Only after hours.Did notice once the alert comes up in the banner area.It will change to a small icon on the right of screen.Touching it will show the allowed speed limit.

Just wonder how the school zones for alerts are coordinated with the ones on BaseCamp? Using a search under community sub category school by a city. Shows lots of schools for this area.

Drove, around 6:00pm, past the school that gave the alert during school hours.

This time, nothing. Looks like Garmin's built-in School-zone alert does have the alert time-period built-in. It would be quite cool, if and when Garmin gets the database populated with "all" schools.

In the mean time, Craig's Custom POI Factory pseudo-school-zone POI TourGuide would have to do.

Me to

Guys, I bought a nuvi 65LMT and this school zone warning feature is turning into a nuisance. Any way to disable it?

The documentation ("owner's manual") doesn't even mention it.

Note on the Garmin website:

"nüvi 65LM issues an audible alert and displays an onscreen warning whenever you approach a school zone."

Thanks.

It's map data

So far the school zone started with my last map update on my Nuvi 3597and it works from Miami To Cincinatti ohio.
I just wish it could figure out when you are in the zone. I get it allot when I pass by schools on major highways

I have 2 2595 and none of them has school zone alert. I am in TX

If interested, this will work for you:

http://www.poi-factory.com/node/42419

Some pics for ref.

http://oldz442.com/images/misc/gps/2597/1149701.png

http://oldz442.com/images/misc/gps/2597/1150275.png

http://oldz442.com/images/misc/gps/2597/1155260.png

Does anyone know how far around a school Garmin considers a school zone? It seems like in my town I get notified quite a ways away on some schools.

Operates 24/7 on the RV 760 in PA and MD with no way to disable.