As students gear up to head back to the classroom, Penticton RCMP are reminding drivers to ease up on the gas in school zones.

Police said this week they will "actively enforce" a permanent 30 km/h speed limit in school zones.

"Safety is our top priority, and strict enforcement will help protect our community91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s children," said Cst. Kelly Brett from the Penticton RCMP.

City crews spent parts of the summer installing new signs to indicate the changes, which make 30 km/h the speed limit in school zones 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The traffic change was approved in May after Penticton City Council voted 6-1 to receive an internal safety report and directed staff to send a letter to the province expressing support for municipal autonomy in setting default speed limits.

Coun. Ryan Graham was opposed.

In the past, a speed limit of 30 km/h was only enforced in said areas during school hours.

City officials say requiring drivers to limit their speed to 30 km/h at all times will keep children safe when playing at playgrounds in the evening, or during summer break.

91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵœWe want to keep our kids safe 91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ“ and reducing speeds to 30 km/h is one of the steps we can take to slow drivers through these zones where children are playing," said Kristen Dixon, the city's general manager of infrastructure.

Also new in Penticton school zones this year is anticipated extra road congestion during drop-off and pick-up times, as Grade 8 students move to Pen-High or Princess Margaret Secondary.

The transition is part of School District 67's "long-term facilities plan," which will also see the closures of Carmi, Parkland, and Giant's Head elementary schools in June 2025.

The new school year begins Tuesday, Sept. 3.