The first of three CAA School Zone Safety Assessments in Shaunavon, Saskatchewan, was conducted at Shaunavon Public School on September 25, 2024, a second assessment was done at Shaunavon High School on October 2, 2024, and the last assessment was performed on October 9, 2024, at Christ the King School. 

Photos courtesy of: Bonnie Lingenfelter and the Town of Shaunavon

These CAA School Zone Safety Assessments took place before school from 8:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and after school from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Staff from the Town of Shaunavon and community volunteers worked onsite in teams to track risky behaviours for motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists. 

The goal of the three assessments was to compare data with CAA School Zone Safety Assessment results from 2022, which showed safety concerns in school zones due to risky behaviours by motorists, pedestrians and cyclists. The risky behaviours flagged at all three schools that year included: failing to stop at a stop sign, jaywalking, and speeding. Results of the recent study including the 2022 data comparison can be found below.

• Shaunavon Public School - September 25, 2024 
• Shaunavon High School - October 2, 2024
• Shaunavon Christ the King School - October 9, 2024

The 2022 CAA School Zone Safety Assessment results can be found at caask.ca/schoolzonesafety.

Since the last assessment in 2022, all three school zones have been updated to include flashing crosswalk signs and radar speed detecting signs.  

Bonnie Lingenfelter, spokesperson for the Town of Shaunavon, explains “By using the data from the CAA School Zone Safety Assessments in 2022 we were able identify problems, apply for, and ultimately receive community grant funding through SGI and T.C Energy to cover the cost of new radar detection signs and flashing crosswalk signs.” 

Lingenfelter also comments: “Although there is still work to do, the recent assessments in 2024 clearly show an improvement in behaviour from motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists in all three school zones. It means the additional safety equipment is working – which is a win for everyone.”   

CAA reminds motorists that we can work together to make our school zones safe by: 

• Observing and obeying the posted speed limits and hours they are enforced. 
• Eliminating distracted driving.  
• Obeying traffic laws. 
• Understanding and abiding by the ‘no stopping’ and ‘no parking’ signage. 

Pedestrians also have a role to play in safe school zones. 

• STOP, LOOK, LISTEN and THINK before crossing the street. 
• Do not jaywalk - cross at crosswalks and marked intersections. 
• Avoid being distracted – be alert and put away mobile devices and headphones. 

CAA reminds families and cyclists that bicycles are considered, by law, a vehicle on the road and cyclists must obey the same rules when travelling on the road. If you dismount and walk alongside your bike, you’re considered a pedestrian and have the same rights as a pedestrian. 

The CAA School Zone Safety Assessment is an online application (app) that tracks identified risky behaviours and ultimately provides education and awareness about the importance of school zone safety. The assessment tool is free of charge and can be booked through CAA Saskatchewan. School or community staff must make themselves available for onsite tracking and can work with CAA to establish the risky behaviours to be tracked. The results are collected by CAA and given to the school community to share with staff, students, families, community partners, and decision makers regarding necessary steps to improve the safety in their school zones.  

Learn more at caask.ca/schoolzonesafety. 

For further information, contact: 

Angel Blair
Senior Communications Specialist
CAA Saskatchewan
angel.blair@caask.ca
306.216.7362

Lona Gervais
Senior Communications Specialist
CAA Saskatchewan
lona.gervais@caask.ca
306.515.4359

Bonnie Lingenfelter
Regional Bylaw Officer
Town of Shaunavon
regionalbylaw@gmail.com
306.297.2605