The leaves are about to turn colours, people are coming back from the lake, and the kids are going back to school. This is why September’s SGI traffic spotlight is about how to be safe in school zones.
“Kids are just so excited that they may not be thinking about traffic safety in that moment,” said Kelley Brinkworth, manager of media relations with SGI. “Be cautious and be watching out for them.”
School zones aren’t just about slowing down. There are many other things motorists have to remember in school zones, such as obeying stop signs and yield signs, yielding to pedestrians, and obeying crossing guards if there are any, as well as keeping an eye out for buses and signals around that.
“I’ve seen it all too often where an impatient driver endangers a child’s life by failing to stop at a school zone cross walk with flashing red lights or fails to use caution by dangerously
manoeuvring around a slowing or stopping school bus,” said Andy Schwindt, a current manager of Warner
Transportation, the busing contractor for the Regina Public School Board.in a news release. “There is thepotential for something bad to happen every day because of the way motorists are driving
through school zones and aren’t watching or paying attention.”
Last year, there were 40 collisions in school zones in Saskatchewan which resulted in 15 injuries. SGI has the following tips for remaining safe in school zones:
· Slow down and exercise additional caution when in a school zone.
· Avoid all distractions.
· Speed limits vary by municipality, but are marked with regulatory reflective signs. In some areas of the province, reduced speeds remain in effect evenings and
weekends, not just during regular school hours and some all year long. Check with your local municipal office if you’re unsure of the rules in your community.
· Respect busing lanes and exercise the utmost caution when approaching or manoeuvring around school buses. In school bus loading zones, obey all signs and
signals and watch for children who may not know the rules of crossing the street.
The penalty for speeding in a school zone is a fine of $140 with an increase the more the driver goes over the speed limit, as well as three demerit points off your license.
