Regional Council approves changes to speed limits in school zones to enhance safety

Waterloo Region – Regional Council approved staff recommendations to adjust speed limits on Regional roads within school zones by day/time/month starting this September.

Regional staff conducted a study to assess current traffic conditions at all 35 school zones that front a Regional road, and concluded that the varied uses of the Region’s roadway network required a new approach to setting speed limits in school zones.    

 Starting this September, and running as a pilot for the 2022/23 school year, residents will see changes to speed limits in most school zones with a reduction of 10 to 20 kilometers per hour (km/h) in some areas, and set at 40 km/h in others, Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. September through June.  School zones currently set at 40 km/h will remain at 40 km/h.

“Enhancing safety on all our roads is a priority for Council,” said Tom Galloway, Regional Councillor and Chair of the Planning and Works Committee. “We know most drivers take extra care in school areas, and by further reducing speed limits during school hours, we are doing everything we can to put the safety of children, pedestrians and motorists first.”

Five of the 35 school zones already display a 40 km/h speed limit and remain as such, 27 areas will be reduced to 40 km/h, and an additional four that are located along faster-moving roadways will see a reduction of 10 to 20 km/h during typical school hours.

Targeting reduced speeds during school hours, and retaining regularly posted speed limits the rest of the time, meets both driver and school safety expectations.

Considering speed limits is just one way the Region of Waterloo is making road safety a priority; the Region has implemented 16 automated speed enforcement (ASE) locations in school zones since September 2021, and continues to look at road design to help reduce speeding.

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