(File photo/northeastNOW)

By Cam Lee

School zone safety

School zone safety reminder as school year gets underway

Sep 2, 2025 | 2:26 PM

The school year is underway, and motorists need to be aware of school zone safety.

Melfort RCMP Staff Sgt. Ryan Case told northeastNOW it’s important to remember that school zone speed limits differ based on the community in which they are established. He added the hours that they are in effect could differ as well, with some set for the entire day and others for specific times that students will be in school.

“Fines for speeding offenses in school zones are higher than a ‘normal’ speeding ticket,” Case explained. “It can get very expensive, which means more points on a driver’s license.”

Anyone caught going 10 km/h over the speed limit in a school zone is fined $270, with a $310 fine for going 20 km/h over, and a $350 ticket for going 30 km/h over.

It’s not just speed motorists need to keep an eye on in school zones. They also need to be aware of children around the street. Case said the kids may not be watching out for vehicles, and it’s important for drivers to pay close attention when in a school zone for this reason.

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“The ability to avoid a collision with someone in the street is dependent on the vehicle speed and amount of attention that the driver is using,” Case said. “Avoiding a collision requires sufficient time and distance for a driver to detect a hazard, decide on a course of action, and execute that action.”

Case said if the driver is going too fast to make those decisions, it could result in an unavoidable collision.

Parents can also help by teaching their young children about the importance of paying close attention in school zones. Case said pedestrians should not always assume that a vehicle will stop for them when they enter a street, and they need to ensure the driver sees them and that the vehicle will stop and allow the pedestrian to cross the road.

Drivers also must pay attention to school buses with flashing lights and stop signs. Case said kids sometimes assume that drivers will see the lights and stop sign and automatically stop for them; however, that may not be the case if the driver is inattentive. Fines for passing school buses could be up to $360.

Case said it’s a good idea to give yourself some extra time to drop off and pick up your kids if possible.

“Speeding and making other driving errors shouldn’t then become an issue,” explained Case. “If you get stopped by the police for a traffic violation, you’ll be even later than you already were.”

Police will be monitoring school zones with the start of the new school year. Case said there will be a higher police presence in school zones for the first few weeks of school to remind motorists to keep it safe.

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cam.lee@pattisonmedia.com