Students at Blackburn Elementary School had an extra set of eyes looking out for them as they headed to school on Wednesday, Sept. 3.
RCMP, in partnership with School District 57 and RCMP Patrol Volunteers, were set up at various points along Giscome Road with radar guns and speed traps — reminding drivers to keep an eye out during the hectic beginning of the school year.
“We're out here serving as a visual reminder that our school zones are back in session,” said Cpl. Jennifer Cooper. “8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday, on all school days, because kids have a hard time curbing that excitement. If you come out to any elementary school — I'm sure the high schools are no different — you can feel the excitement in the air. It is palpable, and that makes it hard for them to remember the road safety rules and act accordingly. We're reminding drivers that it is our responsibility as the adults on scene to be making those responsible choices for the kids — watching out for them and slowing down in these school zones.”
Cooper noted that it also never hurts to remind students about road safety as they head back for their first week.
“If you are letting your kids walk to school on their own, if they're unsupervised or especially if this is their first time, reviewing the route with them — where are the danger spots, where should they be crossing, what do they need to look out for — making sure that we've gone over those reminders, because sometimes our kids tend to forget that with all of their excitement. So a couple of repeated reminders or family discussions about road safety would go a long way to help and keep our kids safe,” she said.
Cooper also emphasized that schools like Blackburn sometimes don’t have sidewalks, like along Giscome Road, and this makes it more difficult for drivers to manoeuvre if a student crosses the street in a rush.
As well, she told The Citizen that the RCMP hears about speeders following the initial back-to-school rush.
“We get constant complaints from schools and people who live near schools or parents taking their kids to school about people speeding through school zones,” said Cooper. “It is prevalent throughout the year. We'll typically find that maybe this week is okay — everybody's kind of got that memo front and centre in their minds — but as we get into the routine, our manners start to slide and we see people starting to ramp up their speed again. So it's something that's important not only first week of school but throughout this school year as well.”
Helping the RCMP at Blackburn Elementary today were RCMP Patrol Volunteers. These volunteers record speeders' information — like the speed they were going, their licence plate number, and the make and model of their vehicle.
While these volunteers can’t issue tickets, a written warning is then often sent to the offending vehicle owner's address and is also given to the RCMP community policing unit, which helps them find areas with prolific offenders.
School zone speed enforcement is not just being conducted at Blackburn, with officers on scene mentioning that during traffic enforcement at Pineview Elementary yesterday, they managed to issue more than a few tickets.
“Pineview has always put a lot into reminding drivers to slow down on that highway,” said Cooper. “It is a numbered highway you're coming off — going a pretty good speed — you come off onto Old Cariboo Road there, and sometimes people forget to slow down for the school zone. They have done a lot as a school and as a parent advisory council to reinforce the message. They've got the flashing beacons and the big 30-kilometres-an-hour signs painted on the road, so that has gone a long way to help, but we still find that having us out there as a visual reminder kind of kick-starts that and gets it really going.”
Cooper also mentioned that people in Prince George are likely to see the RCMP in other school zones in the coming weeks.
“We will be popping up throughout Prince George,” she said. "We're not going to let anyone know in advance so we can see what the typical behaviour in that area is. So keep an eye out for us — this week especially — but throughout the rest of the month as we reinforce the back-to-school message."
RCMP has also provided the following list of tips for drivers, parents and students as the first week of school is underway:
Drivers
- School zone speed limits are now back in effect. This means a 30 km/h speed limit in all marked school zones, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on all regular school days
- Do not park inside or over a designated crosswalk
- Do not pass a stopped vehicle that is allowing pedestrians to cross the street
- When approaching a school bus with its lights flashing and its stop sign extended, drivers in both lanes of traffic must come to a complete stop until the bus driver has turned off the lights and retracted the stop sign
- When a vehicle is travelling at 30 km/h, it takes 18 metres (59 feet) to come to a complete stop. If you are travelling at 50 km/h, it takes 37 metres (121 feet) to stop
Parents
- Try to avoid dropping your child off for school on the opposite side of the street from their school. If this is unavoidable, make sure your child knows how to cross the street safely at the nearest designated crosswalk
- Avoid double-parking by stopping and unloading in non-designated parking/drop-off zones
- Learn the traffic patterns at your child’s school and obey the directions of crossing guards
- Be patient and courteous to other drivers and students
Students
- Make sure to review your route to school with your grown-up at home. Know where to cross the street and where your bus stop is if you are riding the bus
- Don’t forget to look both ways before crossing the street. Remember: stop, look and listen for cars
- If you are riding your bike, make sure you know the rules of the road and are travelling single file as close to the right side of the street as possible. Make sure your helmet is on and fits you properly
