The City of Prince Albert will look at the cost of adding 'no u-turn' indicator on school zone speed signs. (File photo/paNOW Staff)

By Dawson Thompson

School Zone Safety

City to look at adding ‘No U-turn signs’ to elementary schools

Oct 6, 2021 | 6:00 AM

The City of Prince Albert is trying to look for more ways to improve safety in school zones.

At Monday’s executive council meeting, councilors made a motion for administration to research and bring back a report regarding the cost of adding ‘no U-turn signs’ in all elementary school zones.

U-turns in school zones were no longer permitted after a change was made to the city’s traffic bylaw last fall. The fine for violating the restriction is $100.

“You don’t put up signs for every bylaw,” Wes Hicks, director of public works said at the meeting. “We haven’t done that for u-turns.”

Councillor Ted Zurakowski raised concerns about a reluctance to hand out tickets due to a lack of noticeable signs.

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“It’s nice to point at the sign and say, ‘There are no U-turns here’,” Zurakowski said.

The director of public works replied saying the reluctance has changed since the bylaw now falls under the planning department.

Councillor Dennis Ogrodnick initiated the motion with a concern for safety in school zones.

“I understand we don’t want to sign every bylaw, we can’t,” Ogrodnick said. “But school zones, I think we should. It’s a safety issue. On the signs that say 30 km, there should be a sign below that says ‘no u-turns.’

“People are still making u-turns in school zones.”

The director of public works said he will have to look into how much it would cost to add the signs to all elementary school zones.

“We can sign it, but that does not mean they are going to do it,” Hicks said. “That’s where enforcement comes in. When you catch somebody doing it, they don’t do it again and they tell all their friends.

“If you get a several hundred dollar ticket, that is a wake-up call.”

Mayor Greg Dionne made sure to remind administration to make sure that the signs are in the proper places, signaling the entire school zone as a no u-turn zone, not just a certain section.

“To me, it should be the whole zone. It should not just be by the front doors,” Dionne said. “It should be anywhere they unload, that kids get out and can get hit by a car.”

The recommendation was voted on unanimously, 9-0.

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dawson.thompson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @dawsonthompson8