Students returned to classrooms in September, and Winnipeg streets once again became busier as children walked, cycled, took the bus, and were dropped off and picked up each day.
To support safe travel in and around school zones, the Winnipeg Police Service Traffic Division in partnership with Manitoba Public Insurance conducted a back-to-school road safety campaign, In the Zone, throughout September and October.
The campaign combined education, awareness, and enforcement, with officers conducting targeted enforcement during key arrival and dismissal periods at schools across the city. Over the course of the campaign, officers were deployed on 20 separate days to promote compliance with traffic laws and encourage safer driving habits around children.
The campaign resulted in 639 Provincial Offence Act notices, including:
- 523 speeding offences
- 116 other traffic-related offences
The results show an increase from 2025, when officers issued 539 Provincial Offence Act notices during the same campaign period.
While enforcement is an important component of road safety, the primary goal of In the Zone is to encourage behaviour that helps prevent collisions and keeps students safe. School-zone safety is about more than speed. It's about staying focused, recognizing that children can be unpredictable, and understanding that a moment of inattention can have serious consequences.
Reduced speed school zones remain in effect throughout the school year. Where posted, the maximum speed is 30 km/h from 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday to Friday, September through June.
The Winnipeg Police Service reminds all road users to continue slowing down, staying alert, and watching for children throughout the school year. The habits that keep students safe shouldn't end when the campaign does.