School zone safety tips for drivers and pedestrians
With thousands of students and staff members making their way to and from school in our district each day, we'd like to remind drivers and pedestrians to look out for each other during their commutes.
The district works with the Surrey RCMP and ICBC to ensure student, parent and staff safety, whether they walk, bike or drive to school. In the Lower Mainland, 300 children walking or cycling are involved in crashes every year.
We've gathered some tips for drivers, pedestrians and parents from ICBC to make travelling to and from school safe for everyone.
Drivers:
Stick to the speed limit: A 30 km/h speed limit is in effect in school zones from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. every school day, unless otherwise posted. In playground zones, a 30 km/h speed limit is in effect every day from dawn to dusk.
Scan crosswalks and intersections from left to right as you approach: Watch for pedestrians waiting to cross, especially during school hours.
Leave your phone alone: Distraction is the leading factor for drivers in crashed involving pedestrians and cyclists.
Notice if other drivers are slowing down or stopping: If a vehicle is stopped 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.
Give yourself enough stopping distance: You need more time to stop when you're driving fast. At a slower speed, motorists have better chance to react when children or others are crossing the road. This could be the difference that saves a life.
Watch for school buses: When their lights are flashing, vehicles approaching from both directions must stop.
Pedestrians:
Cross only at marked or controlled crosswalks: Do not jaywalk or cross when it isn't your turn.
Look both ways before crossing the street: Ensure it is safe to cross from both directions of traffic before setting foot on the crosswalk.
Make eye contact with drivers approaching the crosswalk: Be certain they see you and that they've committed to slowing down to a stop.
Double-check lights and signals are working at controlled crosswalks: Make sure that the flashing traffic lights are operational and haven't timed out before crossing.
Wait until the crossing guard says it's safe to cross: If your school has a crossing guard, follow their instructions before crossing - they will make sure it's safe before guiding you across.
Parents
Let your child enter and exit your car on the side closest to the sidewalk: It's safest to drop off and pick up as close to the sidewalk as possible. Do not allow your child to cross mid-block.
Before starting your car, check for small children hidden from your view: Walk around your car and always look carefully for pedestrians when backing up.
For more information, please see our fact sheet on driver and pedestrian safety.
Whether you're behind the wheel or just crossing the street, stay alert and stay safe!
