CAA Manitoba says poor school zone signage is causing higher ticket numbers

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This article was published 21/04/2015 (4038 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Slow down — you’re speeding in a school zone. Didn’t notice? You’re not alone.

CAA Manitoba says poor school zone signage is contributing to higher speeding ticket numbers since limits were reduced to 30 km/h last fall.

With better visual cues, CAA Manitoba says drivers will be less likely to break the limit.

“I’m not sure there is anyone around here that would say ‘I consciously wanted to speed,’ or was careless enough to speed through a school zone, but they might miss a sign,” said Mike Mager, president and CEO of CAA Manitoba.

The CAA was supportive of the province’s move to lower school zone speed limits.

But the organization says amber flashing lights (like in Ontario and Quebec), painted curbs and more signs along the road beside the road would help.

“The reality is, if you’re speeding, then you deserve a ticket. But the qualification is that there is an onus to properly monitor roadways and provide proper signage,” Mager said.

Lisa Fraser, communications officer at the City of Winnipeg, said the city must first comply with a provincial mandate, which does not include these measures.

“All municipalities in Manitoba, including the City of Winnipeg, must comply with the signing requirements set out in the provincial regulation pertaining to reduced-speed school zones (Manitoba Regulation 136/2013),” Fraser said via email.

Fraser said Winnipeg is not posed to make any changes to the signs unless the provincial mandate changes. Until then, signs will remain as is.

“We encourage citizens to comply with all road signage for the safety of the public,” she said.

Lori Walker, who owns Merits of Manitoba, a firm that fights traffic tickets for people, said her clients frequently have school zone violations.

She said the problem usually comes down to not enough signs, or signs placed in inconvenient places so that even the most well-meaning driver might miss it.

“If they’re truly concerned about children’s safety, and they should be, as we all should be, the signage should be proper so that people can understand it,” Walker said.

Curt Pankratz, an assistant professor of sociology at the University of Winnipeg, said the city needs alternative solutions to help reduce speeding.

Pankratz said measures such as plastic signs and speed bumps could easily be utilized, but aren’t implemented because police traffic enforcement uses school zones as a money-maker.

“The fact that we are not using these other, better methods to slow people down is the problem,” Pankratz said. “So we don’t have a sign in the middle of the road, that’s a problem. But the question is why aren’t we doing it? It’s easy.”

kathleen.saylors@freepress.mb.ca