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Back to school safety tips

Prince Rupert

2023-09-01 15:05 PDT

As a return to school looms the Prince Rupert RCMP wants to ensure that everyone is safe on the roads whether on their way to work or school.

Chalkboard with back to school on it, and a desk with pencils and an apple
Here are some tips to help keep your children and yourself safe:

 

Pedestrian Safety

 

Remember to remind your children to:

• Make eye contact with drivers before crossing the road
• Stay alert until you have safely reached the other side of the road
• Wear bright or reflective clothing in the evening so you are more visible
• Stop look left and right then left again, listen and be sure to peak around parked vehicles or other obstacles
• Don’t assume that a vehicle sees you or that you have right of way as a pedestrian
• Remove potential distractions while walking such as texting, listening to loud music while walking
• Don’t take shortcuts through heavily trafficked areas such as parking lots
• Never accept a ride from a stranger
 

Reminder for drivers

 

If you are transporting your own children be sure to buckle up everyone in the vehicle!

• Ensure that your child is seated properly, secured in a child safety seat if necessary. Properly used safety seats reduces the risk of fatality by 71% and risk of serious injury by 67%
• Transport Canada also recommends children sit in the back until the age of 13, be sure to check your vehicle manufacturer’s recommendations on height and weight for front seat use as well.
 

Potential Penalties

 

• Speed in school zone $196-$253 
• Speed in playground zone $196-$253 
• Fail to stop for school bus $368 
• Fail to yield to pedestrian $167 
• The above mentioned offences also come with 3 points on a driver’s license
• Disobey school guard/patrol $167 
 

Other Tips

 

• Please drive slowly! School zones have a 30 km/h limit every school day from 8 am to 5 pm. Playground speed limits are also 30 km/h from dawn to dusk all year long
• When school bus lights are flashing red it is illegal for a vehicle travelling in either direction to pass
• Be sure to watch for crosswalks whether marked or unmarked: an unmarked crosswalk according to the motor vehicle act is any intersection, vehicles must yield to pedestrians crossing.

Released by:

Cst. Brody Hemrich
Media Relations Officer
Prince Rupert Detachment

Email: Brody.Hemrich@rcmp-grc.gc.ca

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