‘Our job is very important’: Student crosswalk patrols back, drivers reminded to slow down

Students in the AMA School Safety Patrol program on Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025. (Evan Klippenstein/CTV News Edmonton)

Kids are back in class at most schools across Alberta and that means more vehicle and foot traffic around schools, prompting reminders for drivers to be extra vigilant.

In Edmonton, playground zones, which replaced school zones in the city, are active all year, but in other areas outside the city, school zones are back in effect with a speed limit of 30 km/h.

“We’re hearing increasing concerns from parents, schools and even students about distracted driving and speeding in school zones,” said Herrick-Fitzgerald, AMA School Safety program manager, in a news release.

“It’s a team effort to keep our youngest road users safe. We encourage drivers to allow extra time for their commute, to stay focused around school zones, and to teach their own kids safe crossing practices—everything from making eye contact with drivers to extending their arm to signal their intent to cross.”

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To help keep their classmates safe, some students join the AMA School Safety Patrol.

“Our job is very important because it helps people cross the street safely on dangerous roads,” said Lyla Williams, a Grade 6 student at St. Paul Catholic Elementary School.

“I like keeping people safe and helping people … it makes me happy and proud of myself.”

The program has Grade 6 students equipped with brightly coloured vests and stop signs stationed at crosswalks by schools. These students wait for breaks in traffic, get their signs up and, once traffic stops, let other students who were waiting to cross know it’s safe to go.

“They’re out here doing their best to make sure their classmates, their friends, and their community members are able to cross safely to and from school,” said Chiara Cimino, a Grade 6 teacher at St. Paul Catholic Elementary School.

The students are there in a support role, added Cimino, the stationary stop signs, speed bumps and lights are there to dictate the flow of traffic.

“They’re really just doing their part and double checking the street, but they’re out here to just help everyone do their part and get to school and get home,” she said.

In Edmonton, playground zones are in effect from 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day.

Outside the city, school zones are usually in effect from around 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on school days. Different municipalities and counties have varying times for school zones, so drivers are reminded to pay attention to signage.