[38] Bill 108 Original (PDF)

Bill 108 2004

An Act to honour Carlie Myke and Brandon White by amending the Highway Traffic Act to reduce the rate of speed permitted on highways surrounding schools and to ensure traffic safety in school zones

Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, enacts as follows:

1.  Subsection 128 (5) of the Highway Traffic Act, as amended by the Statutes of Ontario, 2002, chapter 17, Schedule F, Table and 2002, chapter 18, Schedule P, section 29, is repealed and the following substituted:

Rate in school zone

(5)  No person shall drive a motor vehicle on that portion of a highway described in subsection (5.1) at a rate of speed greater than,

(a) 30 kilometres per hour, in the case of a highway that consists of two lanes or less; or

(b) the rate that is 10 kilometres per hour less than the rate otherwise applicable on the highway, in the case of a highway that consists of more than two lanes.

School zone

(5.1)  Subsection (5) applies to a highway that abuts on property on which a school is situated, but only to the portion of that highway that is within 100 metres along the highway in either direction beyond the limits of the land used for school purposes.

Exception

(5.2)  Subsection (5.1) does not apply where a concrete barrier of at least three feet in height separates the highway from the school property on which it abuts.

Signs indicating school zone and rate

(5.3)  The council of a municipality or the trustees of a police village in which a school is situated shall ensure that the following signs are erected along a highway described in subsection (5.1) at least 100 metres before the beginning of land that is used for school purposes on the right-hand side of motor vehicles driving in each direction:

1. A sign indicating the change in the speed limit in the school zone on which flashing yellow lights may be attached and which otherwise complies with the regulations.

2. A sign indicating the beginning of the school zone on which is depicted a walking schoolboy and schoolgirl in black on a fluorescent yellow-green background and which otherwise complies with the regulations.

Sign indicating end of school zone

(5.4)  The council of a municipality or the trustees of a police village in which a school is situated shall ensure that a sign indicating the end of the school zone in black on a fluorescent yellow-green background and which otherwise complies with the regulations is erected along a highway described in subsection (5.1) at least 100 metres after the end of the land that is used for school purposes on the right-hand side of motor vehicles driving in each direction.

Regulations

(5.5)  The Minister may make regulations respecting signs referred to in subsections (5.3) and (5.4).

2.  The Act is amended by adding the following section:

School traffic safety team

176.1  (1)  The council of a municipality or the trustees of a police village in which a school is situated shall, every three years, establish for each school in the municipality or village a school traffic safety team to review traffic safety on highways that abut on land on which a school is situated and in the surrounding area.

Composition of team

(2)  The school traffic safety team for a school shall be composed of,

(a) at least one member of the local police force;

(b) at least one member from the municipality's engineering department, in the case of a school situated in a municipality;

(c) the school principal or his or her designate; and

(d) at least one representative from the school council.

Review

(3)  The school traffic safety team shall observe the flow of traffic around the school zone at peak traffic times during the prescribed period.

Report

(4)  The school traffic safety team shall prepare a written report including recommendations on how to increase traffic safety in the school zone and file copies of the report with the municipality, police village, school board and Ministry.

Commencement

3.  This Act comes into force on the day it receives Royal Assent.

Short title

4.  The short title of this Act is the Carlie Myke and Brandon White Act (Safe School Zones Highway Traffic Amendment), 2004.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Bill reduces the speed at which motor vehicles may travel on highways surrounding schools. The rate of speed is reduced to 30 kilometres per hour in the case of two-lane highways and is reduced by 10 kilometres per hour in the case of highways with more than two lanes.

The Bill requires municipalities and trustees of police villages to establish school traffic safety teams to review traffic problems surrounding schools in the municipality or village and to report to the municipality, village, school board and Ministry of Transportation.