Too often, they don't like what they're seeing -- drivers who routinely speed through the zones.

Three of Kim Francois' kids go to school at Stratton Elementary School in Beckley.

Like many school zones in Raleigh County, cars regularly travel 10 to 15 mph over the speed limit outside the school.

That means parents like Francois must take extra precautions with their children. "I make sure they stay on the sidewalks and if they do have to cross, to look both ways before they cross," she said.

To see how extensive the problem is, 59 News bought a radar gun and used it at various locations in Raleigh County.

We found many instances where drivers exceeded the posted 15 mph speed limit.

Most of the time, said Beckley Police Officer Mark Larkin, it's because drivers aren't careful enough.

"We don't give them a break," Larkin said. "Five miles an hour over is too fast."

While he was with our news crew at Stratton, Larkin pulled over a woman who was driving 28 mph.

"I asked her if she knew the speed limit's 15 and she said she just wasn't paying attention," he said. "So that goes to show you right there, a lot of times, people aren't paying attention."

Because speeding is such a problem, most Raleigh County schools will not let elementary school children walk home without an adult.

"Any of our students that do not ride buses that are provided by the county, the parents pick them up," said Stratton Principal Becky Smith.

Although Francois said her kids are safe at school, they're still taught to look out for one another.

"I make sure my brother is over there and protecting us," said her daughter, Kavita Francois.

Kavita said she knows officers are there to help her when her brother isn't: "Police, that's their job just to make sure kids are safe and they don't hit the kids."

It's a responsibility Larkin said he takes seriously.

"Kids' lives are at stake, you know," he said. "We try to be there to help them."