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Are you in the zone? Darrell Greer Northern News Services Published Wednesday, November 2, 2011
The kids were joined by Special Const. Adrian (Ipkanak) Pilakapsi of the Rankin detachment of the RCMP to remind motorists the speed limit in the school zone is 30 km/h. Pilakapsi, a member of the first group of aboriginal community constables to graduate from the RCMP training academy in Regina, Sask., this past April, said too many drivers are going through the school zone over the speed limit and it has to stop. He said the school zone is more-than-adequately marked and drivers have to take the speed limit seriously. "We're giving the community notice that drivers have to obey the posted speed limit and drive carefully when passing by Simon Alaittuq School (SAS)," said Pilakapsi. "Drivers should go through the zone carefully at all times, but especially in the morning, during lunch time and right after school. "And, not only should they reduce their speed accordingly when driving through the zone, drivers should also stop when they see kids wanting to cross the road and let them pass safely by. "So, basically, I'm advising them to be more respectful of the youth when they see them coming and going from SAS." It only takes a split second for tragedy to strike, especially on the icy roads of Rankin's freezing winters. Pilakapsi said kids are often excited, having fun with friends, or in a hurry to get to school or home for lunch and might not be paying proper attention to passing vehicles. "I've seen people drive past the school in excess of the posted speed limit. "These people are not following the rules and, not only is that very disrespectful to the kids, it can create a very dangerous situation. "Some drivers are simply not paying enough attention, and we want to remind them to use more caution when driving through the school zone. "Nobody wants to be responsible for hurting a child, so let's, as a community, make the effort to respect the kids and the school zone in front of SAS."
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