Grande Prairie Enforcement Services is urging drivers to keep safety “top of mind” when driving in school zones after doling out 200 speeding tickets in the first two weeks of the school year alone.
According to GPES, on top of the 200 speeding tickets, nine tickets for parking violations were handed out in school zones during the same timeframe, and 31 drivers received verbal warnings.
As a result, enforcement services are reminding residents that school zones are in effect from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on school days and the maximum speed limit in those areas is 30 kilometres per hour.
The same rules and speed limit are in place for playground zones; however, playground zones are in effect between 7:30 a.m. and one hour after sunset every day of the week.
Additionally, GPES says it is illegal to pass another vehicle moving in the same direction in both school and playground zones when the rules are in effect.
Peace Officer Sergeant Ryan Hoffman from GPES says the hope is that the number of tickets in school zones will fall as drivers get used to school zone rules throughout the rest of the year.
“The safety of children in our community is of the utmost importance and we urge drivers to use extra caution when near schools and playgrounds,” he says.
Drivers are asked to exercise caution in areas where children frequent by knowing and obeying the 30 kilometre per hour limit, taking extra care at intersections or crosswalks, and staying prepared to stop at any point while driving through school and playground zones.
