Most Winnipeggers against year-round school zone speed limits, poll finds

MostWinnipeggers feel the reduced school zone speed limit laws should not apply outside the school year, according to a new poll commissioned by CBC Manitoba.

Of the 600 Winnipeg adults surveyed randomly, Probe Research says roughlytwo-thirds (68 per cent) polled said they think speed limits in school zones should be restricted to 30 kilometres an hour, but only during months when students are attending classes.

Meanwhile, 27 per cent said they supporthavingthe reduced limits in place year-round.

Five per cent were undecided.

"Citizens from all walks of life and areas of Winnipeg supported leaving these speed restrictions as-is,although four in ten of those residing in neighbourhoods in the city's core area (40 per cent) would support extending these rules to apply year-round," Probe Research said in a release.

"Women (30 per cent, versus 24 per centamong men), those with a Grade 12 education or less (35 per cent) and residents of lower-income households (46 per centamong those earning less than $30,000 annually) were more likely than those from other socio-demographic groups to favour a year-round school zone speed restriction."

Brent Kosack, the father of a one-year-old daughter, said he believesextending the restrictions throughout the year is a bad idea.

"To me it just doesn't makeany sense over the summer when the kids aren't at school to have that enforced," said Kosack.

Support for year-round enforcement

The lawwhich was put inplace last fall in 171 Winnipeg school zones currently stipulates that the 30 km/h speed limits are lifted during July and August when students are on summer vacation. During the school year, tickets for speeders range between $181 to $312.

As the reduced limits came back into effect this September,MarkWasyliw,chairpersonwith the WinnipegSchoolDivision, said he wished they were in place year-round.

Wasyliw maintained that the seasonalrules are "confusing for drivers." Having the laws in place all of the time would also help protect kidswhocontinue to use school grounds during the summer, he added at the time.

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Despite the poll results,AleksandraChomicksaid shesupportsenforcement 365 days a year.

"I would say implement it year-round, because especially around the school zones, the play zones are in front of the buildings and surrounding the road, so it's constant,"said Chomick. "It's not just the school year."

Robert Laflammelives on Harrow Street near CorydonAvenue and is also part of the minority who arein favour of year-round restrictions.

"Especially in this area, the proximity of schools and churches on both corners, people should be ticketed all year," said Laflamme.

"Alot of people don't live in this area, but use this particular street going back and forth as a short cut and a lot of them are speeding down here, even since they put the zone in."

'It's not that busy'

For Rocky McLeod, who drives as part of his job, extending the restrictions throughout the year isn't necessary. His personal experiencehas led him to believe kids aren't spending time at schoolsor their playgrounds much outside of the school year.

"During the summer, Inotice the school grounds are just not used because kids are out doing something else, so there isn't a high populace of kids in the area," said McLeod. "As school starts up again it gets busy, so it's good they slow down during the year, but other than that, it's not that busy."

Results from the Probe Research pollare 95 per cent accurate within plus-or-minus four percentage points of what they would've been if every Winnipeg adult was surveyed. The margin of error increases with each of the survey's population sub-groups.