MOOSEJAWTODAY.COM — Reducing the speed limit in school zones and playgrounds will be positive because there will be less vehicle damage and fewer injuries, while it will also benefit slower-moving residents, the mayor of Moose Jaw says.
“Well, I originally doubted whether it was worth the investment. And then I learned from meeting with our provincial counterparts at (the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association conference) that we’re the last … city in the province to go from 40 (kilometres per hour) down to 30,” Mayor Clive Tolley said during a media scrum following the recent city council meeting.
Motorists who take more time to reach their destinations will cause fewer impacts, injuries and damage during a collision with other vehicles or pedestrians, he continued. Moreover, reduced speeds will benefit handicapped residents attempting to cross the street since more drivers will stop for them.
The community needs to endorse this slower driving and ensure the roads are safe for residents, no matter their age, he added.
In a letter to city hall, the Moose Jaw Police Service said since Jan. 1, 2029, it had recorded zero vehicle-pedestrian collisions in the community. Asked whether Moose Jaw needed to copy other cities in Saskatchewan by reducing speeds despite zero incidents in five years, the mayor said the change was necessary.
“There’s got to be a reason why the whole province has gone that way,” said Tolley. “… If we can prevent future accidents by going just a little bit slower, taking our time, and being a more cautious driver, I think it’s well worth the investment of time and energy to do it.”
Motorists should be able to handle the speed reduction because it will be from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and seven days a week — 777, the mayor added. Moreover, students should be able to remember that as well and be more cautious when they head home in the evening.
The next regular council meeting is Monday, May 13.
