SASKATOON – Slow down in school zones and pay attention when driving near playgrounds and parks. That’s the word from officials as Catholic and public school students return to class Tuesday.
Speed limits in school zones drops from 50 km/h to 30 km/h between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday to Friday, until the end of June. Police will also be enforcing school zones on statutory holidays and school breaks.
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Last year, more than 3,000 motorists were caught speeding in school zones and there were 10 collisions which resulted in four injuries.
City officials say if signage and fines starting at $192 aren’t enough to make drivers slow down, than hopefully the lives of students will.
“Twelve seconds is all the additional time it takes to drive through a school zone at 30 km/h instead of 50 km/h. A child’s safety is worth more than 12 seconds,” said Jay Magus, a transportation engineering manager with the City of Saskatoon.
“The limit is designed to give drivers more time to react and brake in an emergency – such as when a child runs out unexpectedly onto the street.”
Photo speed enforcement will be in effect at five school zone locations. The SGI pilot project continues this school year with one camera rotating through the following school zones:
- Michael Community School;
- École Henry Kelsey School;
- Brownell / St. Angela;
- École Canadienne-Française; and
- Mother Teresa / Silverspring.
Meaghan Craig contributed to this story
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