Take care when driving past middle and high schools in Cranbrook.
City council just reduced the speed limit outside Laurie and Parkland Middle and Mount Baker Secondary schools from 50 kilometres an hour to 30 kilometres an hour.
Under provincial legislation, only elementary schools need to have a 30 kilometres an hour zone on roads adjacent to its grounds.
But Cranbrook city council decided on Monday, November 19 to reduce the speed limit to 30 kilometres an hour between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on school days outside Mount Baker, Parkland and Laurie.
Elementary schools Amy Woodland, Gordon Terrace, Highlands, Kootenay Orchards, Pinewood, Steeples and TM Roberts will continue to have 30 kilometre an hour zones in front of their properties from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on school days.
"I suspect many others in this city didn't realize this, but by provincial mandate, about 10 years ago, school zones were taken away outside middle schools and high schools," explained Councillor Gerry Warner.
"That is going to change. It is going to be 30 kilometres an hour in all school zones. All of us are going to have to be very careful in all of the school zones in the city because this is a pretty big change."
What's more, Cranbrook RCMP have indicated they will be patrolling the roads near the high school and middle schools once the 30 kilometres an hour signs are installed.
"A lot of us have got used to driving 50 kilometres an hour in school zones. That's going to change and I think it's a good thing. You have been warned," said Warner.