St. John's elementary school zone speeds reduced

St. John's city council has approved a recommendation to reduce the speed limit in the city's elementary school zones.

Coun. Art Puddister said the recommendation would see the limit reduced from 50 km/h to 30 km/h during school hours.

The change in speed limits will happen at 16 schools in the city.

"This will be in effect on school days only. We'll have proper signage in place and basically it'll be during school hours starting at 7:30 in the morning and going until five o'clock in the evening," he said.

However, for several major roads — including Torbay Road and Macdonald Drive — the lower limits wouldn't apply.

Puddister said the traffic committee wants council to spend money on oversized and driver feedback signs that display how fast drivers are going.

"We'll be working with the RNC — they will be basically rolling this out with us. We hope to be able to do all these school zones over the summer and have it ready for the first week of September."

He added that while the recommendation only looks at elementary school zones, the city will be looking at junior high schools next — likely followed by high schools.

Council reviewed the recommendation at council Monday evening.