FAQs
- Fixed end time is easier for motorists to remember (one hour after sunset varies with the season)
- Longer speed reduction in playground zones would increase safety by reducing the severity of collisions
- A consistent provincial start and end time for playground zones and school zones makes it easier for motorists to remember to reduce speed and reduces confusion for drivers
- This change is consistent with many municipalities in Alberta that have harmonized school and playground zones including: Calgary (2015), Medicine Hat (2016), Red Deer (2017), Edmonton (2018), Chestermere (2019), High River (2018), Sylvan Lake (2019) and Coaldale (2022)
- Lethbridge Police Service, Lethbridge School Division, Holy Spirit School Division, Southwest Alberta Road Safety Society, and members of Alberta Health Services’ South Zone West Trauma Services, support this effort
- Over a length of 300 meters, reducing your speed from 50 km/h to 30 km/h will add approximately 14 seconds to a commute.
- Over a length of 200 meters, reducing your speed from 50 km/h to 30 km/h will add approximately 9 seconds to a commute.
- Over a length of 100 meters, reducing your speed from 50 km/h to 30 km/h will add approximately 4.8 seconds to a commute.
What does it mean to harmonize school and playground zones?
Starting September 5, 2023, all school and playground zones will be converted to year-round playground zones with a 30 km/hour maximum speed limit from 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.
Why is the City harmonizing playground and school zones?
The City is following through on the recommendation from the Transportation Safety Plan 2021, which recommended harmonizing school and playground zones. This change will align Lethbridge with many other municipalities across Alberta, who use harmonized playground zones. This change is supported by several stakeholders, and backed by research that shows harmonized playground and school zones reduce pedestrian collisions by 33 per cent overall and 70 per cent between 5:30 and 9 p.m.
What are the benefits of harmonized playground zones?
What is the timeline for the work?
New signage will be installed over the summer. The new zones will come into effect on September 5, 2023.
How much will this cost?
$65,000. This funding comes out of cost savings achieved during another City transportation project.
Which school and playground zones will be impacted by this work?
A map of playground zones, effective September 5, 2023, is below and in the documents library.
How much time will this add to my commute?