RCMP urges caution with school zones, speed limits and pedestrian safety

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. – As the school year starts, the importance of road safety is at an all-time high. 

RCMP detachments across the province urge residents to be aware of changing speed zones and increased pedestrian traffic in urban areas. 

On designated school days, school zones limit drivers to a maximum of 30 kilometres per hour from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. In designated playgrounds, this limit is in place from dawn to dusk, seven days a week. 

Motorists are also reminded to be aware of school buses and the children who enter and disembark them. 

While children will exit the bus on the sidewalk, they may need to cross the road, which is one reason why it is illegal to drive past a stopped school bus in either direction when its lights are flashing. 

On August 21st, the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) also issued a notice to motorists regarding back-to-school safety. 

In their release, ICBC emphasized the importance of safety and awareness, with an average of 12 children injured a year in the north between 2018 and 2022. 

Parents are also encouraged to ensure their children’s safety by teaching them road safety, keeping them on sidewalks, and crossing the road only at designated crossings. 

For more back-to-school student safety tips, visit ICBC’s website.