With the start of a new school year upon us, so are the reminders to be extra careful and slow down through school zones.
Starting Sept. 5, drivers must abide by the 30 km/h speed limits in school zones, from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. on school days, or hours otherwise shown on the school sign.
In addition, playground zone signs (diamond-shaped) are in effect dawn till dusk, every day, 365 days per year.
Watch your speed, thousands of youth are today.
B次元官网网址� Victoria B次元官网网址 (@VictoriaB次元官网网址)
Police will be on the lookout for any speedy drivers as soon as school starts.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e going to tweet out some info to remind people that weB次元官网网址檒l be in the school zones, and weB次元官网网址檒l certainly increase our enforcement in school zones at the beginning of the [school] year to serve as a reminder for people,B次元官网网址� said Ray Bernoties, Oak Bay Police Deputy Chief, adding officers will return to their roles as school liaisons, talking to kids and insuring everyone feels comfortable about the start of a new year.
B次元官网网址淚t can be an anxious time for young ones and parents alike, so weB次元官网网址檒l do our best everyone feels safe and comfortable in our streets.B次元官网网址�
Despite all the warnings, education and media warning drivers to slow down in school zones, speed still happens.
B次元官网网址淪adly, it doesnB次元官网网址檛 take long in many school zones before you can find the need to be writing up a ticket to somebody, so we really encourage people to obey the speeds, particularly in school zones,B次元官网网址� Bernoties said, adding that for a lot of kids, it will be their first day, not just back to school, but their first-ever school day.
A BIG shout out to the Safety Patrol kids that are helping keep their classmates safe! Pls slow down as schools back in!
B次元官网网址� Saanich Police (@SaanichPolice)
With the hustle and bustle of daily life, itB次元官网网址檚 far too easy to forget the rules and common sense.
B次元官网网址淥ften when we see someone speeding in a school zone, itB次元官网网址檚 not always malicious, itB次元官网网址檚 more or less careless. Anyone can fall into that mode of commuting to work, and not paying attention, but itB次元官网网址檒l only take seconds to change the lives of many people. People do need to focus, particularly in the school area, and weB次元官网网址檒l be there to help serve as a reminder.B次元官网网址�
Speeding in a school zone can run up to $253 and three demerit points off your license, but it goes beyond just fines and punishments, Bernoties added.
B次元官网网址淢ore importantly, putting the lives of children at risk is just completely unacceptable,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 really a zero-gain situation for drivers.B次元官网网址�
While collisions between kids and vehicles are fortunately rare, they do happen. Based on ICBC crash and injury data between 2011 and 2015, every year around 30 children (aged five to 18) are killed in crashes on Vancouver Island, and around 5,000 are injured in an average of 14,000 crashes. In school and playground zones, 11 children are injured every year.
ICBC also reminds parents to tell their teens to be aware of their surroundings when walking or crossing a road.
B次元官网网址淟ooking at their cell phone or wearing headphones can prevent them from noticing oncoming cars and other hazards.B次元官网网址�
