30 km/h school zones back in effect as students go back to school

Students are heading back to school and that means drivers in Saskatoon will have to slow down in school zones.

School zone rules and speeds are back in effect starting Tuesday, the first day of school. FromMonday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. drivers will have to slow to 30kilometres and will not be able to make u-turns withina school zone.

Driving 20 kilometres over the speed limit in a school zone could result in a ticket of $310 and three demerits, while pulling a u-turn in a school zone could mean a $90 ticket.

Tyler McMurchy, spokesperson for SGI, said that drivers need to be especially vigilant for children crossing the road in and around schools zones during the first days of school.

"They get excited especially around the first days of school, they might not always be paying attention to traffic rules like crossing at crosswalks, waiting for drivers to come to a complete stop," said McMurchy. "That's why it's extra important for drivers to slow down."

According to the Saskatoon Police Service 2,305 tickets were issuedto people speeding in school zones and 354 tickets were issuedto people making u-turnsin school zones last scholastic year.

"It's only a few extra seconds as you're travelling through that school zone," said McMurchy. "So if you just observe that speed limit you won't get into a collision, you wont hurt anybody and you won't get one of those extra expensive school zone speeding tickets."

Members of the traffic unit will be running a two-day campaign in school zones all over the city to make sure drivers are following the rules.

"Police will be paying attention to school zones, a little extra attention, this month," said McMurchy.