Safety
School Zones are put in place throughout the City to keep children safe! Getting children to and from school is the communities responsibility. The following are some of the reasons that you should always slow to 30 km/hr and stay alert at all times in School Zones.
- Children tend to think that vehicles can stop instantly.
- Children are hard to see near parked vehicles. They may dart onto the road at any time.
- Children under 10 can not accurately judge vehicles speed or distance.
- Children often don't pay enough attention to traffic.
Speed
The maximum speed in school zone in the City of Prince Albert is 30 km/hr. This is to increase the drivers ability to react and stop for children who run onto the street. It has been found that accidents occurring at speeds <35 km/hr greatly reduce the chances of serious injury or fatality. Remember to slow down to 30km/hr when you see this sign around the City.
The penalty for speeding in a School Zone is the same as any other speeding offence in the Province of Saskatchewan and results in monetary fines, as well as penalization of at least 3 demerit points by SGI.
U-Turn Restrictions
U-Turns are restricted in all School Zones from 8:00am - 5:00pm, Monday - Friday, September 1 - June 30. The fine for violating this restriction is $100 and is enforced by the City of Prince Albert Police Service.
The U-Turn Restrictions are put in place to ensure the safety of children in our community. Children often think that vehicles can see them but it is not the case in a U-Turn situation. Blind spots when changing directions for a U-Turn put children at risk.
Walking in a School Zone
Pedestrians should always remember the following tips when walking in a school zone.
- Use sidewalks and designated walking paths whenever possible.
- Do not jaywalk. It is difficult for drivers to see pedestrians among parked vehicles.
- Use a designated crosswalk or intersection. Many School Zones around the City have Crossing Guards before and after school.
- Look both ways before crossing the street.
- Remove headphones and avoid distractions such as talking or texting while crossing the street.
Updated - December 15, 2021.
