Back To School Safety Slow Down

Back To School Safety

Motor Vehicle Act Fines and Penalties

Sec. 147(1) Speed in school zone. Fine level $196 - $253. 3 Driver Penalty Points (DDP)
Sec. 147(2) Speed in playground zone. Fine level $196 - $253. 3 DDP
Sec. 149 Fail to stop for school bus. Fine level $167. 3 DDP
Sec. 179(4) Fail to obey school guard/patrol. Fine level $167. 3DDP

The beginning of the 2010/2011 school is an exciting time when children return to meet new and old friends and teachers. However, it is also a time when they are at increased risk of transportation related injuries from pedestrian, bicycle, school bus, and motor vehicle crashes. Many more children are on the road each morning and afternoon and it demands that all drivers’ change their driving patterns and be vigilant.

It is time for everyone – students, motorists, parents, and educators, to improve their traffic safety practices.

The painted yellow curb lines that prohibit parking in front of a school are there for a reason: to ensure that drivers’ vision and their ability to spot children on the sidewalk or roadway is not impeded.

During the busy back to school season, parents dropping off and picking up their children, and drivers commuting through school zones, need to keep the following facts in mind:

• The posted speed limit in school zones is 30 km/h from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. when students are in class.
• The posted speed limit in playground zones is 30 km/h from dawn to dusk, every day of the year.
• Drivers must watch for children walking on medians, roadways, and curbs, and be cautious when approaching intersections.
• Until children are about eight years of age, it is difficult for them to assess whether a vehicle is moving or not.
• When children see an approaching car, they first notice the colour - not how fast the vehicle is traveling.
• Children assume cars stop instantly, and do not have the ability to estimate whether there is enough time to cross the road without being struck.
• A child’s field of vision is one-third narrower than an adult’s.
• Children have difficulty determining where sounds are coming from.
• Most pedestrian traffic injuries happen to five- to nine-year-olds in mid-block crossings, and to 10- to 14-year-olds at intersections.
• It takes a vehicle 13 metres to come to a complete stop when driving 30 km/h, but 27 metres - more than double that distance - when driving 50 km/h.

Tips For Parents and Students

Consider posting these safety tips somewhere in your home and review them with your kids – even older children need to be reminded about road safety.

 

No. 1:  Remove your headphones; put away your phone, MP3 player or other gadgets when crossing a street. Focus your full attention on the road so you can see, hear and respond safely.

No. 2:  Use designated crossing points and follow pedestrian traffic signs and signals. Make eye contact with drivers, so you both know you see each other. The most common road safety error made by kids is not finding a safe place to cross. Teach your child to cross at intersections that have a pedestrian crossing light or a marked crosswalk whenever possible.

No. 3:  Dress to be seen. Wear bright or light coloured clothing. In dark or bad weather, wear reflective material on clothes or accessories.

No. 4:  Always walk on the inside edge of the sidewalk – away from the road. This way, you're further away from the traffic. If there is no sidewalk, always walk facing traffic so you can see oncoming vehicles and drivers can see you.

No. 5:  Be aware of parked vehicles in parking lots and on the road. Drivers 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 the parked vehicle and avoid taking unnecessary shortcuts through parking lots.