Winnipeggers with heavy feet will be paying hefty fines if caught speeding in school zones.
New speed laws are in effect in Winnipeg from September to June between the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. New signs have been set up in school zones advising drivers to slow down to 30 km/ hour.
Some think it’s another cash grab, but let’s face it, we are talking about children here. It only takes a few seconds to slow down but it could take a split second for a child to run in front of your car. So please take caution in these zones.
If you are caught going 50 km/ hour in a school zone, you will be given a $300 fine, and more if you are going faster. It may slow you down, but it may also save a life. Police will be out in large numbers enforcing the new speed laws.
Having been in a motor vehicle accident recently myself, and witnessing a few other accidents since, it’s not a pretty sight.
Most accidents involve high speeds or people trying to beat the light. Just yesterday, I came across an accident at Ellice and Sherbrooke, where one of the vehicles tried to beat the light. Fortunately, no one was seriously injured.
Last weekend on Henderson Highway on a rainy night, a driver tried to overtake another vehicle, causing that vehicle to lose control and slam into yet another vehicle. Unbelievably the first vehicle didn’t even stop. (I guess he was in too much of a hurry to be concerned with the other drivers). Again, no one was seriously hurt.
So please, slow down out there, or pay a big fine. Or worse, cut short a child’s life because you’re in too much of a hurry to get somewhere.
All photos by Doug Kretchmer