As students across the Kootenays prepare to return to school, the local RCMP is reminding drivers to slow down, stay alert, and prioritize safety in school zones.
Beginning the week of Sept. 2, Sergeant Vince LeBlanc B.C. Highway Patrol Unit Commander said it is everyone’s job to ensure a safe start to the school year.
“Tuesday morning school starts, and that means vulnerable users will be out there in droves. It’s on all drivers to add a little bit more attention to their drive that day and to make sure that everyone can get to their school or location of education safely,” said Sgt LeBlanc.
“Kids are excited and they’re not necessarily paying attention to what they’re doing, and they’ll be jumping out in front of traffic without looking.”
Back-to-school safety tips:
- School zones are in effect with a maximum speed limit of 30 km/h, unless otherwise posted.
- Slow down in school zones, fines for speeding in a school zone start at $196 and increase the higher you exceed over the posted speed limit
- Always yield to pedestrians, obey the crossing guards and never block crosswalks
- Stay alert and avoid any distractions, children are unpredictable and can easily dart out in between cars and cross mid-block without any warning
- Watch for school buses, stop in both directions when the red lights are flashing and watch for children boarding, exiting and crossing the street
- Encourage your child to stay on the sidewalk, look both ways before crossing the street and be aware of their surroundings
“Watch out for anything that might be moving, especially with our world of electric mobility, where we have the E-scooters and E bikes,” said LeBlanc.
“As always drive with care, caution, and pay attention to your drive.”
For more information about road safety visit Road safety | Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
