PG Mounties say school zone speed watch campaign shows drivers not getting the message

Students returned to school last month and so did school zone speed limits, but according to the Prince George RCMP, many drivers are not remembering to slow down in school zones.

Last month, the RCMP Patrol Volunteers and Prince George RCMP Traffic Services officers spent nearly 80 hours monitoring drivers at around the City. Police say it became clear many drivers weren’t paying attention to the changes in the marked speed limit.

More than 35 per cent of drivers were caught speeding through school zones during school hours.

According to police, of the more than 4,500 vehicles to pass through these school zones, more than 1,700 of them were speeding. There were also more than 100 vehicles recorded ignoring the school zone all together, and failed to slow down at all throughout the campaign.

“The number of motorists disregarding these speed zones is concerning,” said Cpl. Jennifer Cooper with the North District RCMP. “School and playground zones are areas where drivers must be especially vigilant. Children can be unpredictable, often moving quickly and without warning, and a moment of inattention can have devastating consequences. Reducing your speed and remaining alert gives you the time and distance needed to react if a child suddenly enters the roadway. Slowing down isn’t just about following the law; it’s about protecting lives.”

Cooper added it was rural school zones which had the highest number of speeders.

“We need to make sure that even though it’s kind of out rural and you might be coming off maybe a numbered highway or a section of roadway where you were going a faster speed limit, we make sure that we acknowledge that the school and playground zones are in effect and slow down when school is in session,” she said.

The RCMP extends their thanks to motorists who remembered the speed limit change and slowed down accordingly.

Police remind drivers that October is Drive to Relative Conditions Month.