It’s that time of year again. Children are heading back to school, and because their minds are filled with the excitement of seeing friends, meeting teachers, and preparing for the year ahead, they may not think to put safety first. That’s why adults need to.

“Cars should slow down when they are by the school and they should stop when kids are crossing in the crosswalk,” said eight-year-old Mackena Robertson, who is looking forward to seeing her friends at Parkside Centennial Elementary School and finding out who her new Grade 3 teacher is.

It is advice all drivers need to keep in mind when they are driving through 30 km/h school zones on school days between 8am and 5pm, said Ineke Schuurman, the Township of Langley’s Transportation Safety Coordinator.

“Think of the kids and please slow down,” said Schuurman, who is teaming up with the Township’s Bylaw Enforcement Officers, Langley School District, Langley RCMP, and ICBC to remind drivers to use extra caution around schools – because little ones are depending on it.

Mackena’s six-year-old brother Julian, who is going into Grade 2 and looks forward to doing homework, has advice for children heading back to school: “Kids have to watch out for cars, so they don’t get run over, and make sure that the crossing guard has made the cars all stop and says it’s okay to come across the street before we go,” he said.

“Children are very excited,” Schuurman said, “and it’s a busy time for parents too, as they juggle home and work responsibilities and get back into the routine.” While all motorists must slow down and obey traffic rules around schools, she noted it is mostly parents who drive in school zones. It is imperative that they exercise caution and choose safety over convenience when picking up or dropping off their child at school.

“While your focus will be on your child, there will be many other little ones and parents around that you need to watch out for,” Schuurman noted. “Be courteous to others, and set a good example for your child.”

To help ease congestion, reduce carbon emissions, and save money, Debby Sansome, Director of Energy and Environment for Langley School District, suggests that parents carpool. Parents can also arrange to pick up their children a few minutes after the bell has rung or at a location a couple of blocks away, to avoid the after school rush.

“Even better, walk or cycle to school if you can,” Schuurman added. “Don’t drive if you don’t have to.”

After Labour Day, school buses will be back on the road, and Sansome reminds drivers not to pass a bus if the lights are flashing and the stop arm is down. “This means there may be students wanting to cross the road,” she said. “We make every effort to ensure students don't have to cross, but in some situations we have no choice.  Please watch out for our kids.”

Parents and other drivers are also reminded to obey the bus parking only and no parking areas in school zones. “Parking in front of schools is simply not allowed,” said Township of Langley Bylaw Manager Bill Storie. “These areas are needed to ensure everyone’s safety, and to give school buses a clear view and room to maneuver. Parking in these areas even for a minute will put you, your child, and others at risk.”

 “Children are young, inexperienced, and while they may know about road safety, their minds will be elsewhere in the first few days back at school,” said Langley RCMP Cpl. Holly Marks. “They won’t necessarily be thinking about cars, so drivers need to think about children.”

“Sadly, car crashes are still the number one preventable cause of death for youth in BC,” said Leanne Cassap, Road Safety Coordinator for ICBC. “That’s why ICBC develops free curriculum for schools for students in Kindergarten to Grade 12, with age-appropriate lessons on pedestrian and bike safety for the young, and hard-hitting messages about the risks of driving impaired or distracted for teens.”

“Each year, over 1,600 copies of our curriculum are ordered by teachers and about 50,000 students listen to a RoadSense speaker,” Cassap added. “The more exposure students get to road safety messages, the better the chance it will positively affect their behavior.”

ICBC offers the following back to school road safety tips:

Driver tips

• Always yield to pedestrians. It’s the law.
• Watch for children, especially near or around crosswalks and intersections.
• Driving routes that have less traffic in the summer may now be congested, so give yourself extra time to get to your destination.
• When dropping off children in a school zone, have them exit from the sidewalk side of the car. Never allow a child to cross mid-block

Pedestrians

• Remove headphones and put away your phone, MP3 player, or other gadgets when crossing a street. Focus on the road so you can see, hear, and respond safely.
• Make eye contact with drivers, so you both know you see each other.
• Use designated crossing points and follow pedestrian traffic signs and signals.
• Wear bright or light-coloured clothing. In dark or bad weather, wear reflective material on clothes or accessories.

More Back to School Tips