Risky drivers watched in Winnipeg school zones

A lot of eyes were watching Winnipeg drivers going through school zones on Wednesday.

It's the third year CAA Manitoba and Winnipeg policelooked forrisky driving habits as part of it school safety zone assessment, using teams of observers between 7:30 a.m. and 9 a.m. CT.

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Speeding was the biggest offence with most driverscaught doing an average of about 62 km/h in the 50 km/h zones.

In one case,a car was caught doing 77 km/h, according to Liz Peters, CAA Manitoba's public and government affairs manager.

Officers were not targeting drivers fortickets but were recording speeds with radar guns while Peters and other CAA officials took notes.

"Were extremely disturbed by what we saw," said Peters.

Not only was speed a problem in school zones but so was distracted driving.

Peters also sawa man texting at a red light and when the light turned green,he went through the intersection withoutlooking up.

"We watched him as the individual was looking down at his cell phone, texting," she said.

Tamara Fricker, whowalks her kids across Grant Avenue every morning toMontrose elementary school, said shelooks forward to the day when the province lowers the speed limit in school zones.

"I know the patrol supervisors are often concerned for their safety because people are in such a hurry. The speed limit is 50 and nobody obeys it," she said.

In total, police spotted 146 instances of distracted driving including texting during the 90-minute assessment.Almost 700 cars failed to stop at a cross walk or stop sign,42 cars made illegal turns and more than 100 cars were spotted changing lanes without signaling.

Parent Lisa Farrell said the numbers are shocking.

"Its surprising to me, but I just think people just think that you know, everything will be fine, it wont happen. Nothing bad will happen," she said.