School zone to try out flashing lights
Some school zone signs in Saskatoon are about to get flashy as part of a pilot project.
Starting on June 9, flashing lights will be affixed to school zone signs on Clarence Avenue between Third Street and Fifth Street, according to a city news release. École Canadiennefrançaise is located on that stretch of road.
“Anything to increase the visibility of the signs is an excellent idea. If there’s any way to get people to notice they’re in a school zone, it helps,” said Ken Claffey, chair of the city’s traffic safety committee.
Work on the lights is expected to finish on June 20, meaning they will be up for 10 days before school zone speed limits are lifted for the summer. The 30 kilometre per hour limit, which is in effect from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., will come back into effect Sept. 1.
Getting drivers to realize they are in a reduced-speed zone is crucial, according to Claffey. He mentioned the free standing signs that are put into the middle of the street in some school zones as another example.
“The visibility of a flashing light really does help,” he said.
While he wasn’t aware of the pilot project before being contacted for comment, Claffey was excited about it, and even proposed it being extended elsewhere.
“I think it’s a great idea. I feel they should utilize it on the highway, too, in some of the areas where they’re slowing the traffic down,” he said.