Now that kids are back in school it's time to review safety procedures
By Nelson Daily Staff
Now that teachers are back teaching instead of walking picket lines, it’s time to think about safety in and around schools in the province.
In the Southern Interior, on average, one child pedestrian aged five to 18 is killed while 31 are injured in 30 crashes every year according to ICBC statistics.
So while students in BC get a late start on the 2014-15 school term, the provincial insurance body is encouraging parents to review the rules of the road with their children and go over their daily route to and from school.
ICBC said in B.C., on average, five child pedestrians aged five to 18 are killed and 290 injured in 270 car crashes every year.
Tips for children and parents:
Visit icbc.com to print a child pedestrian safety tips and post them in your home. Review the tips with your children – even older children need to be reminded about road safety.
Some main tips to observe:
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Map it out. Plan your child’s walking route with them ahead of time. Review street names and landmarks to orient them.
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Quiz time. Make a fun, interactive game out of guessing the correct traffic signs and meanings with your child.
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Set a good example. Never jaywalk or run to cross the street. Where possible, cross at intersections with a pedestrian crossing light or marked crosswalk.
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Look. Make sure all vehicles have stopped before entering the road. Make eye contact with drivers before crossing, even if the walk signal is on.
- Listen. Put away the electronic gadgets, cell phone and ear buds so you can hear approaching traffic that may be hard to see.
- Be seen. Wear bright clothes and/or reflective gear especially at night and in poor weather.
Tips for drivers:
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Every school day, unless otherwise posted, a 30-km/hr speed limit is in effect in school zones from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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When you’re dropping off your children in school zones, allow them to exit the car on the side closest to the sidewalk. Never allow a child to cross mid-block.
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If a vehicle’s stopped in front of you or in the lane next to you, they may be yielding to a pedestrian, so be prepared to stop.
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Watch for school buses. Vehicles approaching from both directions must stop for school buses when their lights are flashing.
- Before getting into your vehicle, walk around your vehicle to make sure no small children are behind it. Always look for pedestrians when you’re backing up.
