(File photo/ paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

School Zone Safety

School zone infractions showing no signs of braking

Sep 18, 2019 | 1:00 PM

Prince Albert drivers may be in need of a refresher course, following some bad behaviour in school zones this month.

From Sept. 3 to Sept .13, the Prince Albert Police Service issued a total of 115 tickets in school zones, as classes resumed.The majority of tickets issued were for speeding in school zones, although some drivers were also ticketed for distracted driving, such as using their cell phones.

“As the school year gets underway, it’s important that drivers slow down and watch for students and children,” Sgt. Terry Epp said in a statement. “School zones and crosswalks will be busy with more vehicle and bus traffic during the week, and drivers are reminded to limit distractions and stay focused on the road.”

In comparison, police issued 89 tickets in September, 2018, related to people speeding in school zones, but that was over a period of three weeks. For all of September, 2017,. police issued a total of 60 tickets in school zones.

The legal speed limit in a school zone is 30 kilometres per hour. Fines for speeding through a school zone start at $240 if someone is going 40 km/h, but jumps quickly to $310 if they are going 50km/h.

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Last May, the city was approved for $50,000 in funding through SGI for additional safety measures at several school zones.

The money was to be used for raised crosswalks and electronic speed indicator signs in four areas, including near John Diefenbaker School and St. Catherine Catholic School, in front of Berezowsky School, at St. John Community School, and in front of École Valois.

Keri Sapsford, the city’s Transportation and Traffic Manager, told paNOW the raised crosswalks have been installed and she was hoping to see the electronic signs in place this fall, but added it may not be until the spring.

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nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell