Kevin Laliberte
Editor, Smoky River Express

Are motorists really getting the message about the dangers of speeding in school zones? It’s a question I had to ask myself last week after hearing on the radio that the first day of school in Grande Prairie on Sept. 2 resulted in more than 120 school zone-related tickets being issued by RCMP to inattentive motorists. Closer to home in the Smoky Rive region, the situation isn’t nearly as problematic in nature among drivers. Still, I had my doubts after witnessing upwards of a half dozen motorists driving well over the reduced speed limit of 30 km/hr at Ecole Routhier School last Tuesday afternoon just after school let out at 3:30 p.m. It left me shaking my head in disbelief wondering how so many so-called knowledgeable and experienced drivers could forget the rules of the road in such a short period of time – two months to be precise. With that in mind I approached Cst. Marek Jakabek of the McLennan RCMP to get their perspective on the issue of school zone infractions within the region and the role of the RCMP in creating increased awareness among motorists. Cst. Jakabek says members are once again concentrating their efforts on school zones throughout the region as part of an educational reminder to drivers about the dangers and risks of driver inattention in these areas. “One of the most common responses we hear from drivers we pull over is that they weren’t even aware of being in a school/playground zone,” he explains. If that’s not driver inattention, I don’t know what is! Motorists are reminded to pay close attention to the posted school zone speed limit of 30 km/hr, which is in effect between the hours of 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in addition to playground zones (30 km/hr are in effect seven days a week beginning at 8:30 a.m. and continuing until one hour after sunset) and buses loading and unloading children. At the risk of sounding redundant, I realize that most experienced drivers have already heard this preached to them a million times and don’t need to be reminded. The reality of the situation is that even experienced drivers are prone to making mistakes on the odd occasion despite having a squeaky clean driving abstract. And trust me when I say that the last place you want to have a mental lapse behind the wheel is in a school zone where young, innocent children are present. Being reminded about school zone etiquette is part of a constant learning curve which each of us as responsible drivers must be aware of each and every time we operate an automobile. Equally deserving in terms of attention at this time of year is the need for motorists to be on the lookout for school buses picking up or dropping off students in town and along rural roads and highways. Cst. Jakabec confirms the obvious here again by indicating that in most cases involving school bus infractions people simply aren’t paying close enough attention to the road or surrounding environment. This can range in nature to include everything from reaching for a compact disc or map, to eating, smoking, reaching behind you, reading or trying to apply makeup while driving – common faults which we’ve all been guilty of at one time or another. Passing school bus with its amber lights will make your wallet $345 light, while passing a school bus with its red lights activated will cost you $414 in addition to the automatic loss of six demerit points from your driver’s license. Speeding 20 km/hr over the limit in a school zone, meanwhile, will get you a fine of $124. Thirty km/hr over is $177 while 40 km/hr is $264. Either way, it’s just not worth it, especially when you consider that serious injuries – even death – could occur to a child as a direct result of your actions.

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