Back to School Reminder
Monday, August 25, 2008 6:00:00 AM
Grande Prairie Enforcement Services and RCMP would like to remind residents that school resumes next week (September 02, 2008). Enforcement Services and the RCMP will be active carrying out enforcement in school zones. This includes both conventional and photo enforcement.
School zones in Grande Prairie are in effect from 7:30 am to 4:30 pm on everyday that school is held. The speed limit in these zones is 30 km/h. Fines for speeding in a school zone range from $57 - 351, increasing as the speed of the offending vehicle increase. According to the Traffic Safety Act, it is also illegal to pass another vehicle in a school zone. The fine for passing another vehicle in a school zone is $172.
Lastly, drivers are asked to be cautious around school buses operating in the City. School buses are not required to use their warning lights throughout most of Grande Prairie. Even if a school bus is not using its warning lights, drivers are still encouraged to be cautious around a school bus at it is making a stop.
As well, Grande Prairie and Areas Safe Communities wants both drivers and pedestrians to be aware of increased risks associated with Back To School. Parents need to ensure that their children are crossing roads/streets in a safe manner. The safest place to cross the street is at a corner, preferably at a location with a marked crosswalk. As well, drivers of vehicles that travel through a crosswalk with a pedestrian in it may be subject to significant fines ($575).
Many school zones have no parking areas adjacent to driveways and crosswalks. The intent it to ensure that motorists can see pedestrians that are on the sidewalks, or crosswalks in these areas. Enforcement Services’ officers will also be enforcing no parking zones in and around schools during September. The fine for parking in a no parking zone is $50. Again, this is important to help ensure the safety of our children.
GPES Program Manager, Garry Roth says, “Many communities have noted that the first few weeks of school is one of the high risk times for pedestrian / motor vehicle collisions. Fortunately, in Grande Prairie we have not had many significant collisions during that time, but let’s keep it that way! Let's work together to lower this risk and make Grande Prairie a safer place to be!”
For more information, please contact Enforcement Services at 780-830-5790 or by email at es_contact@cityofgp.com.
