Manitoba amends legislation to allow local governments to change speed limits in school zones

Manitoba has amended the province’s Highway Traffic Act, allowing local governments to set lower speed limits in school zones.

Local governments, such as municipalities, local government districts, First Nations and community councils, now have the ability to:

• Set maximum speeds as low as 30 km/h in school zones where the regularly posted speed is less than 80 km/h
• Set maximum speeds as low as 50 km/h in school zones where the regularly posted speed is
• 80 km/h or above
• Designate specific dates and hours when reduced speed limits are in effect or set the limits to be in effect at all times.

“Reduced-speed school zones are limited to streets and highways that abut the school property and the designated zone must be within 150 metres of the boundary of that property,” the government said.

Any local government that wishes to reduce the speed limit in its school zones must pass a bylaw that provides the detail required in the new Reduced-Speed School Zone Regulation.  Regulations include provisions for the type, size and positin of appropriate notifications and signage erected to inform drivers, according to the government.

Municipalities can also choose to have the speed reduced at all times in a school zone, recognizing that schools are often used year-round and in the evenings as gathering places for children, the government said.