|
In their rush to and from school, children can forget the vital pedestrian safety tips they have learned. Fatigue and lack of attention also increases the risk of a child suffering a pedestrian injury on the way home from school, the playground or a friend's house.
Drivers need to keep these safety tips in mind when driving, particularly around schools, playgrounds and residential areas:
- Scan farther down the road and be careful to obey posted speed limits.
- Always be prepared to slow down or stop.
- Avoid loud music and other distracting activities when driving.
- Be very cautious in parking lots. There are vehicles and people moving in all directions and it is often difficult to see them.
- Be careful when backing out of a parking stall or driveway. Before slowly backing out, check for children and other pedestrians.
- Watch for children between parked vehicles and on sidewalks. Children might dash out into the street after a friend or a toy.
- Please refrain from using your cell phone while driving.
Red Deer Traffic Services and Community Response Unit members would like to ask parents, students and Red Deer motorists to help us keep our children safe!
School and Playground Zones
Red Deer Public School Division year begins on August 30, 2007. In school zones, the maximum speed allowed unless otherwise posted is 30 km/hour. A playground or school zone ends where a traffic sign indicates a higher speed or a sign indicates the end of the zone.
School Zone Times (School Days Only)
8 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
3 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Playground Zones (Every Day)
8:30 a.m. – 1 hour after sunset
POINT, PAUSE and PROCEED Crosswalk Safety
- POINT, PAUSE AND PROCEED.
- POINT across the road with your arm to show drivers you want to cross.
- PAUSE until cars stop. Make eye contact with drivers.
- PROCEED with your arm extended when all cars have stopped.
- Look for traffic safety signs and marked crosswalks.
- Cross the road at the corner of the street or at a marked crosswalk, never in the middle of the street.
- And – NEVER run out from between parked cars or buses.
Walking to School Safely
It is up to parents, care givers, teachers and family members to ensure they provide children with the rules and tools that will allow them to make responsible choices and act safely. When you feel your child is responsible enough to walk to school, make sure he / she knows to:
- Cross safely at corners and crosswalks. Use intersections with traffic lights if possible. Stopping at the curb is the first signal to drivers that you intend to cross the road.
- Look all four ways before you cross - left, right, ahead and behind. If children are too young to know left and right, teach them to look "this way" and "that way".
- Never run into the street.
- Parents need to encourage their children to use crosswalks and not run in the middle of the street to their vehicle.
- Always walk on the sidewalk. If there are no sidewalks, walk on the side of the road facing traffic in single file. Also watch for vehicles backing out of driveways.
- Obey all traffic signs and signals. Recognize pedestrian crossing signals and remember to continue crossing the street if the light changes to "Don't Walk" while you are in the crosswalk.
- Use reflective strips at night so motorists can see you.
- Do not play on the road or near traffic.
Bus Safety Rules
The greatest danger to student passengers is during loading and unloading procedures. When approaching a school bus, drivers must always use caution.
- Drivers are required by law to stop before passing a school bus that has the alternately flashing red lights activated. This applies both to buses on your side of the road or buses facing you on the other side of the road, except if the bus is on the other side of a highway divided by a median.
- Drivers may proceed past a stopped school bus only when the flashing red lights on the bus have stopped.
- Remember to keep an eye out for school buses loading and unloading children, even if the lights are not flashing.
- Always watch for children crossing the road.
The fine for passing a school bus with its red lights flashing is $402 and six demerit points.
Take the time to discuss school bus safety with your children. Ensure your children know to:
- Listen to the school bus driver – they are in charge.
- Stand in a group while waiting for the bus. No pushing or shoving.
- Get on the bus one at a time.
- Take your seat right away and stay seated until you get off the bus.
- Face forward, talk quietly and keep your head, hands and arms inside the bus at all times.
- Wait until the bus stops before standing up and leaving your seat.
- Be properly dressed for the weather.
- Never take rides from strangers even if you miss the bus.
Visit pages on our website for additional information on:
Red Deer City RCMP Detachment Profile
Community Policing Initiatives for Youth in Red Deer
Community Policing Initiatives in Red Deer
RCMP Events in the City of Red Deer
|
