Regina police step up enforcement in school zones

Classes are back in session at Regina’s schools and that means police are going to be stepping up enforcement in school zones.

Members of the Regina Police Service were visible Thursday around Campbell Collegiate, making sure motorists were obeying the rules.

“It’s the first day of school. These school zones are going to be busy again, so we will be out to monitor and make sure that everyone is obeying the laws,” said Cpl. Mark Golaiy.

“It’s a school zone, so slow down for the children (and) slow down because it’s going to be very congested. Also, it’s a reminder that there’s no U-turns in the school zones and please don’t stop where there’s no-stopping signs.

“It just keeps the kids safe and makes it a whole lot easier to get through these school zones.”

The City of Regina lowered the school zone speed limit from 40 kilometres per hour to 30 km/h in 2019. Golaiy said that since that change was made, police have noticed school zones becoming much safer.

“It’s gotten a lot better,” he noted. “Our crashes in the school zones have dropped significantly since we brought in the 30-kilometre-an-hour zone. Drivers are actually obeying (the rules) quite well.

“We’re seeing no increase or anything along those lines. They’re doing very well in Regina.”

Golaiy said while crashes are down, police are still handing out tickets for some pretty common offences.

“Right now it’s still the speed; the speed is still a concern. People are slowing down more, but there is still a lot of speeding going on,” he explained. “We get a lot of complaints about the U-turns, (but) not quite as much as the speeding. And then a lot of it is about the stopping in the no-stopping zones … We see that every day.”

According to Golaiy, the move to 30 km/h also makes it a lot easier for motorists to stop in time in case there is a kid crossing the road.

“When you’re travelling at 50 kilometres an hour, your stopping distance with your reaction time and the vehicle’s ability to stop is approximately 35 metres,” he stated. “The 30-kilometre-an-hour zone was decided upon because it cuts that distance  in half. It’s roughly 16 (or) 17 metres for that vehicle to stop. That keeps the pedestrians and the children safe.”

Those who do get pulled over in a school zone and are issued a ticket also earn demerit points.