Making School Zones Safer: A Motion for Real Change

As a city councillor and a parent, I believe every child deserves to travel safely to and from school. Whether walking, biking, or riding with family, school zones should be designed with one thing in mind: protecting kids and the communities that support them.

That’s why I’ve introduced a motion at Council to review how traffic safety is being handled near school zones especially in areas with high volumes of speeding tickets.

What’s the issue?

We’ve heard the concerns: some school zones are seeing a disproportionate number of speeding violations, particularly in areas where third-party enforcement contracts are in place. The concern isn’t just that tickets are being issued it’s that some of these locations seem to produce repeat violations week after week, month after month.

And that raises an important question:
Are these just “bad drivers”? Or is there something wrong with the design of the roadway itself?

If there’s a pattern, then the issue may not be a lack of enforcement but a lack of safe design.

What the motion calls for

This motion directs the City of Winnipeg to take a data-driven look at these high-ticket school zones. We’re asking city staff to:

1. Identify hotspots where tickets are disproportionately issued, particularly under contract enforcement.
2. Analyze each area’s infrastructure Are there clear signs? Flashing school zone beacons? Marked crosswalks? Adequate lighting?
3. Recommend physical changes like speed bumps, curb extensions, or raised crosswalks where needed.
4. Prioritize improvements where safety infrastructure is lacking especially if ticket revenue has been consistently generated in those locations.
5. Ensure enforcement is paired with prevention, so that we aren’t just catching drivers we’re protecting people.

Why it matters

When enforcement is the only tool we use, we risk turning school zones into speed traps instead of safe zones. Safety can’t be measured by revenue it should be measured by prevention.

This motion is about balance and accountability. If we’re ticketing people in the same areas over and over again, we need to ask: Are we fixing the root of the problem?

My goal is simple: make sure every school zone in Winnipeg is truly safe for children, families, and staff not just policed, but purposefully designed to slow drivers down and keep people safe.

Thank you to the community members who continue to raise this issue. I’ll keep you updated as this motion moves through committee and staff begin their review.

Cindy Gilroy
City Councillor, Daniel McIntyre Ward