Year-round 30 km/h speeds in effect in Saskatoon school and playground zones

As kids head back to the classroom on Thursday, Saskatoon drivers will have to get used to slowing down again.

The speed limit of 30 kilometres per hour resumes in school zones and will be in effect year-round from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Additionally, some school zone boundaries were adjusted and the reduced speed limit was removed from around high schools. U-turns are still restricted.

“Slowing from 50 kilometres an hour to 30 kilometres an hour where children play gives the driver more time to react, a wider field of vision and a chance to come to a complete stop sooner,” said Jay Magus, the city’s director of transportation in a release.

“Children are more vulnerable to severe injury in a crash than adults, so should a crash occur, it is less likely that it would have severe consequences at a reduced speed.”

City council approved the changes in May following a city-wide speed limit review in 2021.

While drivers won’t be required to slow down in high school zones anymore, the 30 km/h speed limit is being implemented in newly created playground zones.

New signs were installed over the summer to reflect the changes drivers will see. Magus said the price tag to change more than 3,000 signs across the city was over $700,000.

“It’s critical for people to slow down in these areas where young children play and learn,” Saskatoon Police Service (SPS) inspector Dale Solie said in a news release.

“Initially our focus will be to educate and raise awareness of the school zone and playground changes; however, enforcement will occur where necessary.”

Fines for speeding in school zones remain the same this year.