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Tuesday, August 28, 2012

RCMP issues back to school reminders to motorists

Alberta RCMP, along with our enforcement partners, will be involved in educating the public on back to school safety. In the excitement of returning to school, children may forget basic road safety rules as they walk, bicycle, and ride the bus to schools across Alberta. Throughout the province, traffic injuries are the leading cause of death and a leading cause of hospitalization of children younger than 14 years of age. Motorists are urged to use caution when driving through residential areas and to adhere to speed limits in school and playground zones.

“Children have difficulty judging oncoming vehicles’ speeds and have a tendency to dart out into the street in pursuit of a friend, pet, or toy. Drivers may find it harder to see children who are smaller in height,” says Cpl. Chris KOSACK, Banff RCMP Media Liaison Officer. “A child's reaction to danger differs from that of an adult. For instance, the approach of a car may prompt a child to run faster across the street instead of staying on the sidewalk as would an adult. Fatigue and lack of attention increase the risk of a child suffering a pedestrian injury on the way to or from school.”

To keep children safe, motorists should:
  • Scan farther down the road and obey posted speed limits. Always be prepared to slow down or stop.
  • Avoid loud music and other distractions when driving.
  • Use caution when approaching intersections or mid-block crosswalks. Parked or stopped vehicles may hide a pedestrian who is crossing the road. The fine is $575 and four demerit points for failing to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk or passing a vehicle stopped at a crosswalk to permit a pedestrian to cross.
  • Be very cautious in parking lots or when backing out of a parking stall or driveway.
  • Watch for kids between parked vehicles and on the sidewalk. They may dash out into the street after a friend or a toy.
  • Adhere to school and playground zone speed limits in your community.

The speed limit in both urban and rural school zones is 30 km/h and is in effect on school days from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. unless the municipality posts other times.

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