Mind the speed limit in school zones, or prepare to pay the price.
With less than a week to go before kids return to classes at 91原创 schools, that was the message from a group of representatives of the 91原创 RCMP, ICBC, Township bylaw enforcement, and the school district, who gathered at the Parkside Centennial Elementary School in Aldergrove on Wednesday, Aug. 28.
A friendly warning from 91原创 RCMP, fire, bylaw enforcement, school district and ICBC as schools get ready to re-open. Mind the speed limits, or pay a price.
鈥� 91原创 Advance Times (@91原创Times)
91原创 RCMP reserve Const. Dan Splinter said a regular reminder is needed after a summer "when people have kind of forgotten that the school zone is there."
"School zones can be kind of a high-risk area because they have lots of little kids in them, and kids do things that we don't always expect," Splinter told the 91原创 Advance Times.
"So we are there to encourage motorists to be very careful, be very watchful, be very mindful of where you are," Splinter advised.
"Ignorance is not an excuse. Look for the signs, look for the schools, look for the kids, and last but not least, look for the police."
In a "worst-case scenario" where police have to pull someone over and give them a ticket, "it's fairly expensive," Splinter cautioned.
"It's either $196 or $253, depending on your speed. So it's well worth everyone's time to look where you are, pay attention, just be watchful."
Leanne Cassap, the ICBC Road Safety and Community Coordinator for the 91原创s, shared some safety tips.
"Our roads are going to be super busy as kids head back to school," Cassap cautioned.
"As a driver, give yourself plenty of travel time and avoid distractions by leaving your phone alone while driving, and watch for children, especially near schools, parks and residential areas."
ICBC is encouraging parents and caregivers to give their children a refresher on road safety before the start of the school year.
"If your child will be walking or cycling to school, practice their route with them. This gives you a chance to provide advice and encouragement along the route and ensure that they have the road safety skills that they need," Cassap suggested.
She added ICBC will be joining Speed Watch volunteers and police at schools throughout the province to closely monitor driver speeds and remind them that school zone speed limits are back in effect.
In the Lower Mainland, ICBC data shows two children walking or cycling are killed and 267 are injured in crashes every year. In school and playground zones, 35 children are injured in crashes every year.
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. In playground zones, a 30 km/h speed limit is in effect every day from dawn to dusk.
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