well it kind of does work.. i mean I don't do anything stupid through school zones anymore, seeing as the amount of times I have seen cameras and things has too much to bother risking it.
whether that is saving lives who knows.. it is pretty chaotic after school, kids run around everywhere, mothers trying to park their trucks (stupid 4wds) without backing into a kid.. if they had more control (school wardens or something), and stop kids running around like maniacs, that would probably help as much as trying to slow the cars down. I know that is not so practical, still.