Saskatoon drivers back to slowing down in school zones

With kids heading back to school, drivers are reminded to get back to slowing down.

School zone speed limits of 30 kilometres per hour went into effect Thursday.

People caught driving faster face fines of $230 or more, plus three demerit points.

“I certainly have better use of that money,” said Const. Joe Tataryn with the Saskatoon Police Service.

“More importantly, travelling that kind of speed is unsafe.”

The limits remain in place from the start of September through the end of June, with restrictions in effect Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

“If someone comes in front of your vehicle at 30 kilometres per hour, you can stop,” said Const. Joe Tataryn with the Saskatoon Police Service.

“If you’re going 50 km/hr, you’re going to hit them hard and suffer major injuries.”

The highest ticket Tataryn has given out in a school zone was to a driver speeding 70 km/h.

Drivers are also reminded photo speed enforcement will be in effect on a rotational basis at five school zone locations through the school year:

• St. Michael Community School—22-33rd Street East
• École Henry Kelsey School—16 Valens Drive
• Brownell/St. Angela—Russel Road
• École Canadienne-Française—1407 Albert Avenue, the zone on Clarence Avenue between 3rd and 5th Streets.
• Mother Teresa/Silverspring—Konihowski Road

Police will also be enforcing a bylaw prohibiting U-turns in schools.