While it goes without saying that West Central Alberta residents want to keep young people safe and secure, proposed new provincial legislation aimed specifically at protecting children at school and at play is welcome news.
The Enhancing Safety on Alberta Roads Act, which is now before the Legislature, would let municipalities set local rules for playground zones and school zones.
“Working with Alberta drivers, municipalities and stakeholders we will continue to help keep our children and Albertans safe,” said Ric McIvor, Minister of Transportation.
The new legislation would specifically give municipalities the authority to set the hours during which school zone speed limits are in effect and give municipalities the authority to modify the period in which speed restrictions in playground zones are in effect.
If passed, municipalities could align playground and school zone hours to suit local needs, reducing confusion for drivers and providing better protection for children.
Other amendments will help “align legislation with changes that have been made to the Criminal Code of Canada over the years and ensure Alberta's traffic safety legislation is strong, clear and consistent,” he said.
MLAs of all parties should be encouraged to move this new playground zone and school zone law through the Legislature without delay.
At the same time, it remains a fact that no amount of legislation and no additional rules or laws will guarantee that children at play and walking to and from school can be kept completely safe from traffic dangers.
In the end, the best way to keep kids from harm on streets and roads is for drivers to ensure that they doing each and every thing necessary to avoid collisions. And that requires drivers to do a number of things – and to not do other things.
Area drivers should ensure that their vehicles are in good working condition at all times, with good tires and proper maintenance of brakes being a must.
While Alberta distracted driving law has now been in effect for some time, there are still far too many drivers using cell phones and other devices while behind the wheel. Such bad habits must end.
And of course it goes without saying that motorists who drive while under the influence of alcohol and drugs shouldn't be behind the wheel – they should be in jail.
This new legislation aimed at protecting young people is welcome news. With that said, drivers should know that they continue to have the ultimate responsibility when it comes to playground and school zone safety.
