Drivers in Wainwright could soon need to slow down near schools and playgrounds from morning until night, every day of the year. The town is proposing a new traffic bylaw that would set a 30 km/h speed limit in those areas from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week, with residents invited to share their thoughts at a public hearing on July 7.
The proposal, known as Bylaw 2026-03, would affect streets around local schools on 25th Street, 27th Street, and 8th Avenue, as well as areas next to the Peace Memorial Multiplex and the Wainwright and District Communiplex. The new speed zones would be in effect year-round, replacing the current limited hours on school days.
The idea is to make neighbourhoods safer for kids and families who use schoolyards and play areas well beyond class time. Studies show that lowering speeds makes a big difference. If a vehicle hits a child at 50 km/h, the risk of serious injury is about 75 percent. At 30 km/h, that risk drops to roughly 25 percent. A University of Calgary study found a pedestrian’s chance of survival rises to about 95 percent when hit at 32 km/h, compared to just 15 percent at 64 km/h.
Wainwright is not alone in this move. Other Alberta communities including Lethbridge, Calgary, and Edmonton have already adopted similar all-day and year-round speed zones near schools and playgrounds. Lethbridge made the change in September 2023, following the lead of Calgary, which had already adopted similar zones. A University of Calgary study of Calgary’s harmonized zones found fewer collisions and lower average speeds afterward.
Residents who want to weigh in can attend the public hearing at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, July 7, at the Town Council Chambers, 1018 – 2nd Avenue. Written submissions can also be sent to Scott Flett, Director of Planning and Development, at the Town Office before the hearing.
