August 30 marks the first day of school for Christ The Redeemer students followed by September 1 for the Foothills School Division and that also mean school zones are in effect everywhere.

Okotoks Municipal Enforcement is sending the message now instead of later to remind motorists to slow down to 30 km/h.

Okotoks Municipal Enforcement Manager Tim Stobbs

Manager Tim Stobbs says the last thing anyone needs is to have an injury involving those just heading back to class.

"Students are very excited and happy to be back with their friends and back to school and enjoying some of the activities associated to school so they may or may not be paying attention like they should to the cars surrounding them," he says. "So we as drivers have to take extra care this time of year to ensure that we don't run into conflict with one of young and excited pedestrians."

Those that get pulled over by law enforcement may face severe traffic penalties says Stobbs.

"First and foremost our presence will be seen along with our partners in the RCMP in the schools zones immediately when school gets back in and we will be taking a fairly stingily enforcement towards it."

Stobbs says it isn't just kids on foot that drivers need to keep their eyes peeled for.

"We have to be concerned with our bicycle traffic as well around schools because we do have other vehicles on the road that the motorist may have to share the road with in higher volumes than they would during the summer when the normal good weather is here."

School zones are 30 km/h and in effect until 5 p.m. on school days.

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