SGI is reminding Saskatchewan motorists that kids are back in class this week with school zone speed limits in effect, and when they are in effect can vary between municipalities. For example, in Saskatoon the school zone is 30 kilometres per hour, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, September through June. In Regina the school zone speed limit is also 30 kilometres per hour but it is seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Chief Operating Officer for the SGI Auto Fund is Penny McCune who points out you’ll have to learn an expensive lessen in the form of a costly school zone speeding ticket if you don’t pay attention to the speed limit and times of enforcement on the signs posted.

Getting caught driving 20 km/h over the posted limit adds up to a ticket of $310. School zone speeding tickets start with a base fine of $170, plus $4 for every km/h over the limit and a minimum $60 Victims of Crime surcharge. (The km/h charge and the VOC surcharge both increase at 31 km/h over the limit).

Drivers

-Pay attention to pedestrian crossing lights and crossing guards.

-Exercise caution around school buses as they are loading and unloading.

-Avoid U-turns in school zones (some municipalities have by-laws that prohibit them).

-Don’t add to school zone congestion; obey the signs declaring “no stopping” zones.

-If you’re dropping kids off, do it on the same side of the street as the school.

Parents

-Teach your kids to cross at crosswalks, and not jaywalk.

-When they do cross, they should look both ways, make eye contact with the driver and wait for the vehicle to come to a complete stop.