Drayton Valley town council has passed first reading of a new Traffic Safety Bylaw that would consolidate documents to make the regulations more accessible to residents.
The proposed bylaw, which got initial approval on May 6, would consolidate the following six bylaws into one document:
- Heavy Vehicle Bylaw (2015/15/T)
- Off-Highway Vehicle Bylaw (2015/16/T)
- School Zone Bylaw (2012/01/P)
- Traffic Bylaw (2016/03/P)
- Traffic Bylaw Speed Amendment Bylaw (2025/04/P)
- Transportation of Dangerous Goods Bylaw (2014/09/P)
Town officials say these documents include 93 pages of legislation, whereas the proposed consolidated bylaw would be 28 pages. The consolidated bylaw would also update the legislation to make it more modern and effective.
Some changes in the bylaw include:
- Review and changes to the truck route and dangerous goods route, removing these vehicles from the downtown area and near 50 Avenue/50 Street.
- Increase timelines snow removal signs are required to be placed from 12 hours to 24 hours, and seasonal parking ban notification from eight hours to 12 hours.
- Increase in fine amounts to deter offences and help keep pace with inflation, as most fine amounts in the existing bylaws are over 10-years-old.
- Introduction of administration’s ability to have costs owing if someone damages the roadway or sidewalk (not just issuing a violation ticket).
- Allow school buses to be parked in residential areas between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. to allow bus drivers to take the bus home during the day (currently not permitted at all).
- Brief introduction of “miniature vehicles” while keeping it very basic, pending changes to provincial legislation (current advocacy occurring through Alberta Municipalities).
- Change helmet requirements to remove all people required to wear helmets on bikes/scooters, etc. to only those under the age of 18 on bikes.
It also proposes setting a standard 50 km/h speed limit in town unless otherwise posted. This Speed Limit Policy requires further discussions by council and will return when the bylaw is considered for second and third reading.
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