(File photo/batttlefordsNOW Staff)

By Angela Brown

Planning for school re-opening

Town updates traffic bylaw; reminds drivers to follow rules

Aug 19, 2022 | 5:49 PM

The Town of Battleford is encouraging drivers to follow the rules of the road now that it is coming closer to the time when schools will be re-opening again for the fall.

At this week’s meeting council gave third reading and adopted the proposed update to the town’s traffic bylaw. The bylaw is in accordance with the Traffic Safety Act and the Municipalities Act.

CAO Ash Alam said the bylaw encourages drivers to be mindful of the rules of the road and heed all posted signage.

“Especially in the school zones, the school zones have more signs than ever,” he said. “We utilized the SGI grant to buy those signs and put them everywhere. Because our main concern was [improving] the school zones when our children are crossing the street.”

Alam said in his report as the traffic increases every day in the community, the town is making new roads to improve driving conditions and relieve traffic congestion.

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The town has also taken steps to make sure drivers are not speeding.

It installed four permanent flashing traffic signals throughout the community so drivers know if they are exceeding the limit in a reduced-speed area.

The town is also installing two mobile trailer signs in the community to monitor traffic speed at various locations every day.

Drivers are also reminded to ensure they are properly braking for stop and yield signs, as well as red and amber lights.

Alam said while the town may have been a little more tolerant in some cases in the past, it will now actively enforce the traffic rules and fine offenders appropriately.

The town also wants to make sure people are parking only in authorized parking areas.

“Over a couple of years, there were some near-misses that were reported to us,” Alam said who also added that if people are parking in the wrong place they put children and pedestrians at risk who are crossing the road.

The town also wants to get the message out that people should be mindful of signage whenever they are driving.

“The town put up those signs for a reason,” Alam said. “They know this is a higher pedestrian-traffic [area], or has higher school-traffic.”

Drivers are also reminded not to use their handheld mobile phones while driving so they are not distracted.

“The rules must be followed for maintaining discipline on the roads, and above all for our own safety,” Alam said, adding that the updated traffic bylaw will help make the community of Battleford safer for everyone.

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Angela.Brown@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW