Back to school means more children walking and biking on our roads, Because younger children often have limited experience with traffic and lack the skill to negotiate traffic safely motorists need to take special care and be extra alert while driving. Help keep school zones safe by following these important safety rules:
- Respect the school zone speed limit.
- Be aware of school zone signage.
- Do not park in a No Parking zone.
- Do not pass other vehicles in a school zone.
- Do not pass a stopped school bus with red flashing lights on.
- Stop when at STOP paddle is held up by a crossing guard.
- Obey all yield, stop and traffic signal controls.
- Be ready to stop at all times. Children do not always notice oncoming traffic.
- Always try to make eye contact with children wanting to cross the road.
- Be patient and wait for children to complete their crossing before proceeding.
- Yield the right-of-way to pedestrians at all intersections and crosswalks.
- Give pedestrians the right-of-way when they are walking on a roadway with no sidewalks.
If there is a designated drop off area, use it. It make take a little longer, but it is safer. Stopping on the roadway impedes traffic flow and frustrates motorists who may make unsafe traffic maneuvers as a result. When using the drop off zone, move as far forward as possible to leave room for other parents also using the area.
Obey all traffic and parking signs and by-laws. When a motorist parks close to a crosswalk, children can’t see oncoming traffic. The potential for an accident is high. In some cases the “No Stopping” area is extended on the approach to a crosswalk.
Always obey crossing guards and yield to pedestrians in crosswalks. The Highway Traffic Act states that motorists must yield to pedestrians waiting to cross the roadway. Always be prepared to stop on the approach to a crosswalk. Children will expect you to stop and may suddenly run out onto the road.
Park and walk. If at all possible, park your car some distance beyond the congested area and walk to meet your child.
Carpool. Take turns with other parents sharing the driving. It will help to lessen congestion around the school and make it safer for everyone’ children.
To help create a safe traffic environment around schools, consider leaving your car at home and encourage children to walk, in-line skate or cycle to school. You can contribute toward enhancing traffic safety for children and other road users by respecting all school zone traffic control measures, parking regulations and exercising traffic safety practices.