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MEDIA RELEASE: Speeding, traffic congestion top concerns in school zones as Manitoba students head back to class

Jan 11, 2024

3 min

Ewald Friesen



Winnipeg, MB, September 5, 2023 – As Manitoba students head back to class this week, parents say speeding and traffic congestion are their biggest worry when it comes to road safety near schools.


A recent study by CAA Manitoba, conducted by DIG insights*, shows that 94 per cent of parents have at least one concern about safety in school zones.


“We want to remind motorists that they need to be extra vigilant as students return to school this week,” says Ewald Friesen, manager of government and community relations, CAA Manitoba.


“Kids will be excited to see their friends and teachers and may fail to check their surroundings before stepping out onto the street.”


The top three concerns are drivers speeding (32 per cent), traffic congestion in and around school (30 per cent), and a lack of street/school parking (26 per cent).


Other concerns include illegal parking or stopping, jaywalkers, distracted pedestrians and drivers, and drivers not obeying traffic signs.


As a result of those concerns, many parents drive their children to school, further exacerbating traffic congestion, Friesen notes.


“While there are always parents who must drive their children to school, we do encourage parents and students to try other modes of transportation to get to class,” says Friesen.


“Things like walking, biking and skateboarding are great exercise and lots of fun, and fewer cars will help alleviate parents’ concerns.”


The study also showed that parents would like to see additional solutions.


About 26 per cent of parents want better road infrastructure in school zones and 21 per cent want to see more police enforcement.


More crossing guards and road safety education for parents and students was also suggested.


“Helping to keep school zones safe for everyone is the primary goal of CAA’s School Safety Patrol program,” says Friesen.


“Watch for our trained patrols in bright yellow-lime vests helping people safely cross the street.”


According to Stats Canada, there were about 183,000 students enrolled in about 700 K-12 schools across Manitoba in 2022.


Back to School Safety Tips for Drivers:

Drivers can also use the following CAA Manitoba tips to ensure they are staying safe in school zones.

  • Slow down: Know the speed limit in your neighbourhood’s school zones and respect them. Give yourself plenty of time to drop off your kids at school to avoid rushing.
  • Follow the rules of the road near school buses: Always stop for a stopped school bus with its upper flashing lights and stop arm activated, then wait for children to get safely on or off. Stay alert and watch for children or parents/guardians crossing the road when the bus moves on.
  • Choose a safe spot to drop off and pick up your children from school: Follow your school’s rules and avoid double parking or stopping on crosswalks, dropping off or picking up your kids on the opposite side of the street, and stopping in moving traffic as kids rush out. Instead, use the designated drop off areas or consider a spot a bit farther away from school that is easily accessible and safe.
  • Make eye contact with pedestrians: With the excitement of going back to school, anticipate that children may not easily see or hear your moving vehicle, so be sure to make eye contact with pedestrians crossing the road.
  • Watch for CAA School Safety Patrollers: When travelling to and from school, watch for CAA School Safety Patrollers in their safety vests, as they play an important role in ensuring the roadway is safe before kids cross on their own.
  • Avoid fines: Passing another vehicle in a school zone is not permitted. Passing a bus with its lights flashing and stop sign activated will result in a $673 fine and five demerits. Speeding in school zone is a minimum $200 fine and two demerits.


* The study, commissioned by CCG and conducted by Dig Insights in May 2023, surveyed 613 Manitoba parents/guardians between the ages of 18 and 74 with children attending school from kindergarten to grade 8. The margin of error for a sample of this size is plus or minus 4% at the 95% confidence level.


Connect with:
Ewald Friesen

Ewald Friesen

Manager, Government and Community Relations

Ewald manages CAA's advocacy and community relations efforts in Manitoba.

Congestion ManagementSchool Zone SafetyRoad SafetyGovernment & Community RelationsPolicy Advocacy
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A notable finding was that the vehicles in the September 2026 CAA EV Circuit consumed approximately 40 per cent less energy, on average, than the vehicles evaluated during the February 2025 CAA EV Winter Test. While the tests were conducted under different conditions and with different vehicles, the difference highlights the significant impact that temperature can have on EV efficiency. A short charging stop can meaningfully extend a trip When it comes to charging experience, during the standardized 15-minute charging session, participating vehicles added an average of 110 kilometres of displayed range. Almost two-thirds of the vehicles added at least 100 kilometres, demonstrating that a brief charging stop can provide a meaningful boost during a longer journey. Results differed significantly among vehicles. The displayed driving range added during the 15-minute session varied from 58 kilometres to 178 kilometres. 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MEDIA RELEASE: CAA Manitoba encourages families to make a School Year Resolution for safer school zones featured image

3 min

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As Manitoba students head back to school, CAA Manitoba is encouraging families to make one simple school year resolution: help create safer school zones for everyone. With students, parents, school buses, adult crossing guards and pedestrians returning to daily routines, school zones become significantly busier during the back-to-school season. CAA Manitoba is reminding all road users that school zone safety is a shared responsibility and that small actions can make a big difference in helping children get to and from school safely every day. "Back-to-school season is an exciting time for families, but it also brings increased traffic and activity around schools," says Ewald Friesen, manager of government and community relations, CAA Manitoba. "Whether you're driving, walking, cycling or taking the bus, everyone has a role to play in creating safer school communities by slowing down, staying focused and looking out for one another." Reduced school zone speed limits are back in effect As of Sept. 1, reduced school zone speed limits are back in effect across Manitoba. Between 7 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, drivers are required to reduce their speed to 30 km/h when travelling through school zones. To help reduce congestion and improve safety, CAA Manitoba is encouraging families to set a few "school year resolutions" this fall: Give yourself a few extra minutes: We know mornings don't always go according to plan. When possible, build in a little extra time for the school run. A less rushed arrival can help reduce behaviours like double parking, stopping in undesignated areas or dropping children off from unsafe locations. Follow your school's drop-off routine: Every school has procedures designed to move students safely and efficiently. Following designated pick-up and drop-off practices, even when the line is long, helps improve traffic flow and creates a safer experience for children, families, and school staff. Consider a "park and walk": If it's practical for your family, parking a short distance from the school and walking the last block can help ease congestion near entrances while giving children an opportunity to build road safety awareness. Help reduce traffic with active school travel: If possible, incorporate active school travel into your family's routine, even one or two days per week. Encouraging your kids to walk or wheel to school helps to ease traffic congestion, among other benefits. Reinforce road safety rules: Proactively chat with children about how to safely walk, bike or scooter based on their age and neighbourhood. Simple reminders like looking "left, right, left" before crossing, paying attention to crossing guards and staying alert around driveways, back lanes and parking lots can make a big difference. CAA Manitoba is also reminding drivers to stay alert in school zones, particularly during arrival and dismissal periods. Motorists should watch for adult crossing guards, school safety patrollers, pedestrians, and school buses, and be prepared to stop at marked crossings. Drivers must stop at least five metres away from a school bus with flashing red lights and an extended stop arm and remain stopped until the signals are no longer activated. Now in its 90th year, the CAA School Safety Patrol program has helped keep Manitoba students safe as they travel to and from school. Student Patrollers help classmates cross roadways safely while promoting good road safety habits and demonstrating leadership within their communities. "Creating safer school zones starts with all of us making thoughtful choices every day," said Friesen. "When drivers slow down, families follow safe drop-off practices and children understand how to navigate their neighbourhood safely, we can help ensure every student has a safer journey to and from school." For more information, visit: www.caamanitoba.com/advocacy/school-safety/school-zones.

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