We’ ve all been taught to slow down to 30 kp/h in school zones when children are present.
Most people drove 30 through school zones regardless.
But now, you could be penalized on your provincial driver’s test for driving too slow in a school zone.
David Doucet, the owner of NS Driving Services, says things changed in March when he was informed by a provincial examiner that they would marking tests according to letter the law.
“We show up one day and the examiner comes out and says they’re going to be changing how they look at the school zone, marking tests according to the letter of the law. When children are present the speed limit is 30 kp/h, when children are not present it will be 50 kp/h. I thought no. these kids have been trained to do 30 in a school zone. I’ve already had some students lose points on their provincial road exam for driving too slow in a school zone. The problem is, if we open up and say let’s go 50 until we see a kid, it’s going to be too late”
However, the RCMP have told him that anyone caught driving 50 in a school zone will be pulled over.
The Motor Vehicle Act states that when driving through a school zone, where children are present, driver’s must reduce their speed to 30 km/h in areas where the approaching limit is 50 km/h.
Where the speed limit is higher than 50 km/h, drivers are required to reduce their speed to a maximum of 50 km/h when children are present.
Children being present is defined as being on the highway in the school area; or outdoors, within 30 metres of the highway, in the school area.
This reduced speed limit is in effect 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, when children are present in the school area.
You can hear the full interview with Dave Doucet on the Y95 CJLS Weekender this Sunday morning.
