City Releases More Information On School Zones
With the new reduced speed limits in school zones - 30 km/hr from 7 am to 7 pm 365 days a year - coming to school zones the City has released further information about the coming changes.
The new speed limits take effect on a school by school basis based upon when new signage is erected.
The anticipated schedule for erecting the new signage is:
Lindale School
Palliser Heights School
Michaels School
Sunningdale School
King George School
Vanier Collegiate
Agnes School
Central Collegiate
Ecole Ducharme
Peacock Collegiate
Phoenix Academy
Margaret School
Prince Arthur School
Cornerstone Christian School
Mary’s School
Empire School
Riverview Collegiate
Westmount School
Sacred Heart School
William Grayson School
The former 40 km/hr school zone speed limit signs are set to be replaced with the slower 30 km/hr signs. The signage in some cases will be changed completely to accommodate standardized signage at all school zones - MJ Independent file photo
All of the school zone lengths will be standardized to fit driver’s uniform expectations.
There will also be some school zone areas that change in size or are not a school zone any longer but become a school area instead.
A school area does not have a reduction in speeds to 30 km/hr but drivers are asked to exercise caution in these areas.
The areas dropping from school zones to school areas are:
Central Collegiate - Caribou St W from 1st Ave NW to 2nd Ave NW.
William Grayson – Athabasca St W from 9th Ave NW to 8th Ave NW
Ecole Ducharme – 4th Ave NW from Stadacona St W to Ominica St W
Westmount School – Vaughan St – 10th Ave SW to 11th Ave SW
New school areas will be installed around Saskatchewan Polytechnic.
There are no moves to install a school zone around Sask Polytechnic - despite continued back door lobbying - after Council unanimously said no to an attempt to make the area around the adult educational facility a school zone.
The school zone was denied largely due to the fact the students are adults.
The main reasons given for the drop from 40 km/hr to 30 km/hr in school zones is to be uniform with other communities in the province as well as North America.
The other reason is the safety factor that stopping distances, serious injuries and fatalities are reduced when the speed limit is reduced from 40 km/hr to 30 km/hr while at the same time having a minor impact on driving times.
There will be a grace period in school zones by the Moose Jaw Police Service until the first day of school in September. Until the signage is changed the speed limit remains 40 km/hr 8 am to 6 pm.