Slow Down and Look Around
As we head into the school year, please remind your children about road safety and follow all driving and parking regulations in and around the school zone. ICBC provides some helpful information below.
Key messages
Drivers should leave extra travel time so they aren’t rushing and are more likely to speed.
Drivers should be focused entirely on the road and watching for children, especially in or around school zones.
Police and Speed Watch volunteers will monitor drivers’ speeds in school zones to ensure they follow the 30 km/h speed limit and help children get a safe start to the school year.
When dropping off your children in school zones, allow them to exit the car on the side closest to the sidewalk. Never allow a child to cross mid-block.
If a vehicle is stopped in front of you or the lane next to you, it may yield to a pedestrian, so proceed with caution and be prepared to stop.
Watch for school buses; when their lights are flashing, vehicles approaching from both directions must stop.
Before getting into your vehicle, walk around it to make sure no small children are hidden from your view. Always look for pedestrians when you’re backing up.
A hockey net or ball in residential areas can mean that kids are playing nearby. Watch for children as they could dash into the street at any moment.
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.