Unions of Nova Scotia Municipalities

Nova Scotia Speed Limits to be Reduced in School Areas

To protect students and make roads safer, the province introduced legislation on November 2 which will reduce speed limits in school areas. The speed limit would be reduced from 50 km/h to 30 km/h when children are present in school areas where the surrounding speed zone is 50 km/h. In school areas where the surrounding speed zone is higher, the speed limit would remain 50 km/h when children are present.

There will be a driver education awareness campaign to support the revised act once it is proclaimed. New speed zone signs will also be posted at the beginning and the end of school areas.

Alberta, British Columbia and New Brunswick already have a 30 km/h speed limit in school zones as do many U.S. states. The legislation is supported by numerous groups in Nova Scotia, including The Nova Scotia Chiefs of Police Association, Safe Communities HRM, the Ecology Action Centre and the Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities.

The legislation would go into effect in fall 2012.

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