Speed radar signs keeping kids safe: principal

The principal at Fredericton’s newest middle school said students are a lot safer now, thanks to a new speed radar sign installed near the school zone.

Bliss Carman Middle School Principal Peter Steeves said the new speed radar sign installed in his school zone is making a big difference.

Radar signs discourage speeding. (Photo courtesy Google Images.)

“It has slowed the traffic down, and you know that middle school students aren’t the best at stopping at crosswalks.  They look both ways and think ‘Ah that’s good enough’ and just go,” Steeves said.

“I think it’s a good thing.”

Last November, the city installed a speed radar sign near Bliss Carman Middle School on Kimble Drive and one near Devon Middle School on McLaren Avenue to improve student safety.

“Student safety is a big issue with us and we believe that these new systems will improve school zone safety,” South Devon Area Coun. Eric Megarity said in a press release.

“I urge all motorists to slow down and watch out for children in school zones.”

Steeves said speeding was an issue before the radar sign was installed because most drivers aren’t aware there’s a school in that neighbourhood.

“Traffic wasn’t used to a school being here, and so they were certainly travelling at 50 (km/hr), if not more than that,” he said.

The speed limit in school zones is reduced to 30 km/hr between 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday to Friday, from Sept. 1 to June 30.

“They’re probably not down to 30 usually because they have to slow down and it takes some time, but they’re much more conscious because they see it flashing there,” Steeves said.

Steeves said the school originally requested a set of traffic lights but the city denied that request and promised the speed radar sign instead.  He said he’s satisfied with that.

According to a press release, the city will install the radar signs in other school zones this summer.

“I think it would be a marvellous thing for other schools, especially for those people that are not from the neighbourhood.  If you know the neighbourhood, then you can remember that there’s a school there.   But if you don’t know the neighbourhood, you might not realize,” Steeves said.

Drivers caught speeding in school zones face a fine from $300 to $1,204.

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Posted by Jody Nabuurs on Feb 17, 2010. Filed under News, This Week's Edition. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.