The principal of St. Anthony’s School is hoping to get motorists to slow down when driving by the school.
Discussion is resuming over whether or not to make a section of North Dinosaur Trail a school zone, reducing the speed of vehicles to 30 kilometres per hour during school hours.
“I am very concerned about the safety of our students when crossing the highway in front of our school. We have had several near misses to date. I have approached the Mayor’s office, our MLA’s office and the RCMP to see if there are other solutions that could work,” said JoAnne Akerboom, principal of St. Anthony’s School. “Everyone I have approached in the community is very supportive and are working with us to explore alternate solutions.”
Prior to the school opening in February last year, the RCMP asked residents to be vigilant when driving by the school. Students crossing North Dinosaur Trail must use the crosswalk in an area designated 70 kilometres per hour.
Because North Dinosaur Trail is a highway, it is administered by Alberta Transportation.
Initially RCMP and the Town of Drumheller asked Alberta Transportation to install a system of early warning lights which would flash if students were crossing. The RCMP also had a greater presence in the area after the school opened.
For its part, the school placed a greater emphasis on educating its students about traffic safety.
Now, those measures may not be enough. Akerboom sent a letter to the Drumheller Town Council on Tuesday asking for their support in lobbying Alberta Transportation.
At the meeting, Council agreed to support the school’s initiative, but felt a complete review of all the traffic issues surrounding St. Anthony’s School was necessary.