Officials with City of Grande Prairie Enforcement Services are reminding drivers to slow down on Tuesday as kids returning to school also means a return to 30 kilometres per hour speed limits in a school zone.
Sgt. Charlene Gallant with Enforcement Services says while the speed limit is 30 km/h during school hours, drivers should be more than cognizant of how unpredictable kids can be when it comes to crossing the street, and suggests slowing down even more for extra safety.
“The speed limit is 30 but keep in mind that the kids are excited to get back and they may also forget while they’re running to school excited to stop for traffic.”
To make sure students across Grande Prairie and the Peace Region get back to class safely, police and officials will be posted at crosswalks around schools in the city. Gallant says it shouldn’t just be for the first couple of days or during school hours that drivers should be taking the effort to slow down seriously.
“As adults, it’s our responsibility to keep our children safe, the children safe in the community and to be so careful throughout the entire year in school zones.”
Gallant adds it’s also illegal to pass another vehicle that is moving in the same direction in either a school zone or playground zone.
Starting September 3 until June, school zones will in effect from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.