Slower speed limits directly ahead

The Winnipeg School Division is set to resume the use of 30 km/h speed limits in school zones on Tuesday, ahead of the 2026-27 school year. This shift is due to the return of school crossing guards after a summer break. One of those guards, Luna Zúñiga, is not expected to return after suffering life-altering injuries in a 2024 collision with a car. Zúñiga advocated for fully stopping cars when children are crossing the street.

Winnipeg’s road-safety unit is currently piloting traffic-calming measures, such as in-street crosswalk signage, and studying the possibility of designating regional roads as 30 km/h school zones. The speed limit will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. from September 1 to July 1.

Traffic-safety researcher Curtis Pankratz from the University of Winnipeg anticipates high revenue from photo-radar tickets on the Tuesday following school resumption. His research indicates that photo-radar ticket revenues in Winnipeg peak during the back-to-school season, as people adjust to new routines. Studies show that overall infractions drop and average speeds decrease within 15 minutes of school bells ringing when children are present.

Despite the anticipated revenue, community members urge for proactive interventions, like better signage and pavement markings. The city has installed traffic-calming curbs and new in-street signs at various school crossings to increase driver awareness.