By Angela Brown

Back to school means drivers need to exercise caution

Sep 3, 2018 | 12:24 PM

With children heading back to school Tuesday, it means a re-education for drivers to watch their speed and be alert for kids crossing the road.

Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI) spokesperson Tyler McMurchy said while back to school is exciting, it’s also a time when drivers need to use added care.

Fines have increased to $310 for driving more than 20 km/h over the speed limit in a school zone. Drivers going more than 40 km/h over the limit face a $570 ticket.

SGI’s 2017 report card showed 20 collisions in school zones that year accross the province, with two resulting in injured pedestrians. There were more than 18,000 convictions for speeding in school zones and 71 for failing to obey a school bus signal.

When a bus’ stop-signal comes out and is flashing, this indicates children are boarding or getting off the bus.

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“If they have the stop-arm out, you definitely want to … come to a complete stop, because there might be children crossing in front of that school bus,” he said. “If a school bus is pulled over or stopped, it’s likely either unloading or loading children, so it’s definitely smart to exercise the utmost caution when approaching.” 

McMurchy said children may not be paying attention to how they cross the street, adding to the importance for drivers to be vigilant so everbody gets where they are going safely.

He asked parents to educate their children about staying safe and advises them to teach a few basic tips: make eye-contact with drivers when they are planning to cross the road, wait until all vehicles have stopped before crossing the road, and cross the road at designated crosswalks and controlled intersections only. 

As an added word of caution, he said both drivers and pedestrians should always look where they are going, and not use a hand-held device while walking or driving. It is illegal for drivers in Saskatchewan to text or use hand-held devices in any way while driving.   

“Avoid distractions,” McMurchy said. “Whether you’re a pedestrian or a driver, it’s important to keep your head up and screen down.” 

 Angela.brown@jpbg.ca

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