WITH Richmond students returning to class on September 8, Richmond RCMP is asking drivers to obey posted speed limits and to watch for children walking, cycling, and rolling near schools.
The detachment’s Road Safety Unit and Community Engagement Team will conduct targeted enforcement and outreach outside local schools during the first weeks of the school year, with support from Community Policing Volunteers. Officers will be visible near school zones and available to answer questions from drivers, parents and students.
School zone speed limits of 30 km/h are in effect on school days from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., unless otherwise posted, and playground limits of 30 km/h apply every day from dawn to dusk. Drivers are reminded to leave their phones alone, watch for stopped school buses, and be prepared to stop for pedestrians at crosswalks.
“The first weeks of school bring more children and more traffic to the same streets,” said Sgt. Stephen Large, Richmond RCMP Road Safety Unit. “We’ll be out around schools across Richmond, and we’re asking drivers to slow down, put their phones away, and watch for kids on foot and on wheels.”
Richmond RCMP also reminds parents and caregivers to check the rules before their children ride an e-scooter to school. Richmond takes part in the Province’s Electric Kick Scooter Pilot Project, which sets the minimum riding age to 16. Riders must wear a helmet, stay off sidewalks, and follow the rules of the road.
“Parents, please have a safety talk with your children about using e-scooters and why we obey laws,” added Large. “We don’t want a simple trip to school to end with a trip to the hospital instead.”
Richmond RCMP encourages parents and caregivers to familiarize themselves with their school’s drop-off and pick-up procedures and to follow them. Families are also encouraged to practice the walking or cycling route to school before the first day and to talk with their children about crossing at marked crosswalks and looking both ways.
According to ICBC, an average of 50 children are injured while walking or cycling in B.C. in September, the highest of any month. Across B.C., an average of three children are killed and 402 are injured in crashes while walking or cycling each year.
“Back-to-school is an exciting time for children and a busy time on our roads,” said Harvey Kooner, local ICBC road safety coordinator. “Drivers can help children get a safe start to the school year by slowing down, avoiding distractions and watching for children, especially near schools, parks and residential areas. We encourage parents and caregivers to talk about road safety with their children and practice their route if they’ll be walking or cycling to school.”
Drivers caught speeding in a school or playground zone face fines. Drivers travelling 40 km/h or more over the limit also risk a roadside driving prohibition and vehicle impoundment under B.C.’s excessive-speeding rules.
