Don't forget to slow down in school zones next week.
School zone speeds will be enforced beginning Tuesday, Sept. 5 as 30,000 (full time equivalent) students return to School District 43 (SD43) schools, supported by about 4,000 staff, including about 2,500 teachers.
This means 30 km/h speed limits will be back in full force on school days — Monday to Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., unless otherwise posted.
Each school year, Coquitlam RCMP asks drivers to to be extra cautious and watch for children on the roadway.
As well, playground zones are still in effect from dawn until dusk every day.
Typically, police will monitor school zones for traffic violations and speak to people — or even ticket them — if they are caught speeding.
School zone fines
Common traffic violations under the BC Motor Vehicle Act near schools and parks, and the accompanying fines, are as follows:
- $167 = Fail to obey school guard or school patrol
- $167 = Fail to yield to pedestrian at crosswalk
- $196 = Speed in school zone or playground zone 1-20 km/h over
- $253 = Speed in school zone or playground zone 21-40 km/h over
- $368 = Fail to stop for school bus
Talk to your kids
It's also important that parents and guardians do their part in ensuring their children know the rules of the road before heading back to school.
Safety tips provided by RCMP are as follows for students:
- Use designated crossing points and follow crossing signals where available
- Remove headphones from music players and put down the cell phone when crossing the road
- When crossing major roads, make sure that all lanes of traffic have stopped before walking across. Often drivers in the middle lanes don’t see pedestrians
- Make eye contact with the drivers before stepping out onto crosswalks
- Dress to be seen — daylight hours are decreasing, so wear brighter colours or reflective material whenever possible
- Walk on the sidewalk, or if unavailable, walk on the side of the road facing the traffic
- Walk on well-lit routes with less traffic
- Always be aware of your surroundings
Tips for drivers include:
- Plan ahead, leave earlier to allow yourself extra time through School Zones
- Be alert to children near or around crosswalks and intersections
- If a vehicle in a different lane slows or stops in front of you, slow down or stop and ensure that no one is on the crosswalk before proceeding
- Always yield to pedestrians at intersections or designated crosswalks
Anyone who sees poor or unsafe driving behaviour near playgrounds or schools is encouraged to call Coquitlam RCMP at 604-945-1550 or use the detachment's online crime reporting system.
