Okanagan school zone speed limits have officially changed

People driving through school zones will have to slow down sooner because zone hours have officially changed.

The school zones in the Central Okanagan are now running from 7:30 a.m. until 5 p.m.

Previously, the zones started at 8 a.m., but Moyra Baxter, chairperson for the Central Okanagan School District, told KelownaNow that this has been in the works for awhile.

"I know it's difficult when rules are changed like this, especially when motorists have become used to it starting at 8 a.m. But, I know that the city said they will change the signs and it will be good," Baxter said.

The change was brought forward to council in July and councillors approved the time change.

Fred Wollin, the traffic operations supervisor with the City of Kelowna, said he knows he’s heard about congestion on the roads. The easy fix in his eyes is to just leave earlier.

"People just need to leave a minute earlier. It's a minor impact and it is funny how most of the comments are from the mission area. We have those two roads that get congested and most of the people in that area drive or leave at the same time," Wollin explained.

The small change will keep the student's safety top of the mind, Dave Gibson with the Central Okanagan School District said.

The City of Kelowna spent about $3,000 changing the 90 signs in the Central Okanagan.

The 30 kilometre per hour school zone speed limit is in effect from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., unless otherwise posted.