It was a fast-tracked motion, to get drivers to slow down around schools – and on Tuesday, the school zones with lower speed limits went into effect.
For the first time in 40 years, drivers will have to slow down to 30 kilometres an hour near elementary schools during school hours, after the motion was passed by City Council in July.
Crews worked through the following weeks to get proper signage up, although police are giving drivers some time to adjust before handing out tickets.
“The sign is one thing, but slow down for the kids,” Sgt. David Green with the Edmonton Police Service said. “They’re likely not going to be paying attention; it’s a different world to them.”
For many parents, such as Greig Johnson, whose kids walk to school, the slow-down offers peace of mind.
“There’s some pretty heavy [footed] drivers down here,” Johnson said. “People are sometimes going 50, 60 kilometres an hour, so it’s a good idea.”
On Tuesday afternoon, police told CTV news they had not received complaints about the change, and there were no collisions in school zones.
Police are also asking parents to bring up the topic of safety with their children, and are asking them to remind their kids of the rules.
“It’s good because some people would just speed through and not look, and someone could get hurt,” Fraser Berrett, a Grade 6 student, said.
The school zones are in effect between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on school days where signs are posted, police said Tuesday that they are reminding drivers to slow down, and officers will begin handing out speeding tickets in school zones October 21.
With files from Brenna Rose
