Back to School Means Back to School Zone Rules
Tuesday, September 3, 2013 @ 3:56 AM
Prince George, B.C. – It is that time of the year again, when drivers are reminded to practice safe driving habits and slow down in school zones.Public school students return to the classroom tomorrow. Although it may be just for a short day, the rules around school zones are back in force.
RCMP remind us that many students are very excited about heading back to class, and there are tips drivers, parents and students can follow in order to ensure everyone gets too and from school safely.
For drivers
- Every school day, unless otherwise posted, a 30-km/h speed limit is in effect in school zones from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- If a vehicle is stopped in front of you or in the lane next to you, they may be yielding to a pedestrian, so be prepared to stop.
- Always yield to pedestrians – it’s the law.
- School buses will be back on our roads. Vehicles approaching from both directions must stop for school buses when their lights are flashing.
- Before getting into your vehicle, make a habit of walking around your vehicle to make sure no small children are behind it. Always look for pedestrians when you’re backing up.
For parents and students
- Remove your headphones and put away your phone or other electronic gadgets when crossing the street. Focus on the road so you can see, hear and respond safely.
- Make eye contact with drivers, so you both know you see each other.
- Dress to be seen. Wear bright or light colored clothing. In dark or bad weather, wear reflective material on clothes or accessories.
- Be aware of parked vehicles in a parking lot or on the road. A driver may not see you between parked vehicles and you may not see them moving. Before crossing or walking through a parking lot, stop and look left-right-left around parked vehicles. Children should avoid taking shortcuts through parking lots.
Car crashes are still the number one preventable cause of death for children and youth in B.C. aged 5 to 18. As people return to work and school from summer holidays, drivers should plan for more traffic, be extra cautious and watch for children, especially in or around school zones.
Police will be checking to make sure everyone is obeying the rules of the road and just to refresh everyone’s memory;
B.C. penalties
· Speed in school zone: $196 to $253
· Speed in playground zone: $196 to $253
· Fail to stop for school bus: $167
· Fail to yield to pedestrian: $167
· Disobey school guard/patrol: $167
Comments
Yielded for a pedestrian once and almost got them killed. So I’ve decided to take the ticket instead of living with the guilt.
School zones should be all year!
NoWay is right stopping to let kids cross is a very bad idea, seen two close calls by drivers doing this. If you get a kid killed by this practice it is no ones fault but yours. So do not do it.
Maybe the answer is for EVERYONE to stop for pedestrians, instead of not doing it because some idiots don’t.
That being said, I have also seen some very close calls when stopped for pedestrians. A honk of my truck horn is about all that saved them.
HMMMM, Not stopping for pedestrian AT A CROSSWALK is simply ignorant. Even more ignorant are the idiots who stop in the middle of Ospika where there is NO crosswalk to let people cross. Worst I have seen is someone stop on the bypass in front of CNC to let people cross. How about we just all obey the basic rules we all should have learned before we got that plastic card stating we are somewhat capable of operating a vehicle.
How about idiot pedestrians crosswalk or not head straight ahead not checking traffic as they are crossing.
A lot of the problems are the education system, convincing the kids that they are so special that they do not even need to look both ways a to cross a street any more.
When I went to school, that was basic. Look both direction before crossing the street.
Another important one is, Yes you were in the right, however your still dead.
He spoke
I don’t believe crossing the street is in the curriculum. Do you want teachers also to come to your house and teach them how to do the laundry?
I don’t think He Spokes Comments had anything to do with curriculum as much as they did about the fact that kids today all think the world should stop, bow down and provide them with what they want when they want it.
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