School zones across southwestern Saskatchewan will certainly experience an uptick in traffic this week as children return to school.

That traffic will be subject to a speed limit of 30 km/h in Swift Current and 25 km/h in Shaunavon.

"When you pass through school zones, don't fail to slow down," Tyler McMurchy, the manager of media relations with SGI, said. "It is an open book test, of course, it's not a pop quiz that you didn't have time to study for, it just really tests your reading comprehension. The speed limit and times of enforcement are always found on bright reflective signs as you enter the school zone, there's no secret here."

Last year, 23,540 tickets were issued by police across Saskatchewan for motorists speeding in school zones and those tickets come with more stringent penalties.

"More importantly though than the possibility of getting a ticket, is the possibility of causing a collision that could seriously injure somebody," he said.

According to SGI, since 2011 there have been 48 collisions in school zones with 12 of those involving pedestrians.

"Teaching your kid to cross at crosswalks, not jaywalk," he said. "Taking advantage of a pedestrian crossing light or crossing guard to help them get across the street safely."