Police will be out in full force Tuesday morning as students make their return to school.
Starting Tuesday, Sept. 3, and throughout the month police in the Ridge Meadows RCMP's Crime Prevention Unit, in addition to Speed Watch volunteers, will be monitoring school zones throughout Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows between the hours of 7 a.m. until 4 p.m., monitoring vehicle speeds and reminding drivers to slow down.
They will also be doing some social media reminders, and advising the public of our additional visibility, explained Const. Tisha Parsons with the Ridge Meadows RCMP.
"As a Crime Prevention measure, the Ridge Meadows RCMP deploys resources to speed prevention and education within school zones every September and throughout the year," said Parsons, noting that many of the Crime Prevention initiatives are conducted in partnership with ICBC.
ICBC said their first event will be in Pitt Meadows on the afternoon of Wednesday, Sept. 4.
Their team will be out with Speed Watch and Cell Watch volunteers at Highland Park Elementary and Pitt Meadows Elementary, said Kate Woochuk, local ICBC road safety coordinator.
"“With the start of the school season, we’re asking drivers to avoid distractions and watch for children, especially near schools, parks and residential areas,” said Woochuk. “We encourage parents and caregivers to give their children a refresher on road safety and practice their route to and from school if they’ll be walking or cycling.”
She also advised giving yourself plenty of travel time and to avoid distractions by leaving your phone alone while driving.
According to ICBC, every year in the province, 359 children are injured in crashes while walking or riding their bike.
ICBC has invested $1,750,000 in 134 projects focused on school safety from 2019 to 2023. Last year alone, the corporation completed 29 projects totalling $526,000. Upgrades included adding pedestrian signals to crosswalks, rapid rectangular flashing beacons, raised medians, pedestrian refuge islands, speed reader boards and speed humps.
They have also released tips for drivers and pedestrians for back-to-school safety.
For drivers, ICBC advises that:
• 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;
• drivers should watch for school buses and when their lights are flashing, vehicles approaching from both directions must stop;
• if a vehicle stops in front of you or in the lane next to you, they may be yielding to a pedestrian, so proceed with caution and be prepared to stop;
• avoid distractions by leaving your phone alone while driving and watch for children walking, cycling or riding a scooter. Distracted and inattentive driving is a leading cause of crashes with pedestrians and cyclists, says ICBC;
• before getting into your vehicle, walk around it to make sure there are no small children hidden from your view. Always look for pedestrians when backing up;
• help pedestrians see you better by making sure that your headlights, brake and turn indicator lights are clear, visible and in good working condition at all times;
• and in residential areas, look for signs of children playing such as a nearby ball or hockey net, slow down and watch for children as they could run into the street at any moment.
For parents and caregivers, ICBC advises:
• to make sure your child exits the car on the side closest to the sidewalk, if dropping them off in a school zone. Don’t stop in a no parking or no stopping area or block a crosswalk as this can prevent drivers from seeing children as they’re walking and put their safety at risk;
• teach your child the basics of crossing the street – stop at the curb or edge of the road; look left and right for oncoming vehicles; then look left over your shoulder for vehicles that might be turning; make sure all vehicles have stopped before entering the road; make eye contact with drivers before crossing, even if the walk signal is on; when the intersection is clear, start crossing and keep looking for approaching vehicles;
• teach your child to walk on the inside edge of the sidewalk away from the road, so they’re further away from traffic. If there isn’t a sidewalk, they can walk facing oncoming traffic, so they can see approaching vehicles and make eye contact with drivers;
• set a good example for children by crossing at intersections with a pedestrian crossing light or marked crosswalk, where possible. Avoid shortcuts through parking lots or around parked cars where it's harder for drivers to see small children;
• teach your child to stay focused on their surroundings while walking, cycling or riding a scooter and to listen for traffic and scan for approaching vehicles;
• if your child will be outside at night or in poor weather, make sure they’re wearing bright clothes and reflective gear;
• and discourage play near or on railways. Only cross railway tracks at designated signals or signs and watch your step.
Other ICBC statistics note that in school and playground zones, 51 children are injured in crashes every year across the province.
In the Lower Mainland, two children walking or cycling are killed and 267 are injured in crashes every year and in school and playground zones, 35 children are injured in crashes every year.
