School starts again this week and many people are returning to their daily work routine. This means heavier traffic along with an increase in pedestrians, cyclists, and children on the roads. According to the Vancouver School Board, there are 90 elementary schools and 18 high schools that host 56,000 students, and this is just in Vancouver.
Even if you don’t have young ones of your own, it is important to be on the lookout for children walking on the streets, school buses and reduced speed zones around schools.
As a driver, it is important to remember to be cautious and aware that children often walk down laneways and on the roadways going to and from school. ICBC suggests these tips to help keep children safe:
- Obey school zone speed limits of 30 km/h;
- Allow for extra time on busier routes;
- Always stop for school busses with flashing lights;
- Yield to pedestrians;
- Pedestrians should always use crosswalks;
- Be extra cautious when reversing make a habit of doing a walk-around before starting your car.
Please remember that standard hours for the 30 km/h school zones are usually from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the possibility of extended hours to accommodate extracurricular programs. And if you are speeding in a school zone, you could pay up to $483 in fines. Police are usually out in greater force this month to ensure all road users are careful in school zones and local neighbourhoods.
