AS parents and students settle into their school routine, Surrey RCMP say they and their partners continue to promote road safety with education and enforcement campaigns aimed at high risk driving behavior.
The “Think of Me” campaign is designed to remind parents and drivers about school zone safety and the hazards of distracted driving. Officers will be issuing drivers handmade warnings created by students as a visible reminder to “think of me” and “take a break from your phone” while driving.
The “Think of Me” campaign is a partnership between police, ICBC, City of Surrey Vision Zero, Surrey School District, and Surrey Crime Prevention Society.
In the Lower Mainland, two children walking or cycling are killed and 267 are injured in collisions every year. In school and playground zones, 43 children are injured in collisions every year.
“This campaign is an opportunity to involve students in driving home the message that high risk driving behavior like speeding and distracted driving, is dangerous and can increase your risk being involved in a collision,” says Surrey RCMP Cpl. Vanessa Munn. “Officers with our Youth Unit and Traffic Community Response Unit will continue with both education and enforcement throughout the year in school and playground zones.”
“School zones are incredibly busy with parents picking up and dropping off children, making it even more important to slow down, allow extra travel time, and avoid distractions,” says Karen Klein, local road safety coordinator. “We’re encouraging parents to review the rules of the road with their children and go over their daily route to and from school.”
For more information on school zone safety or distracted driving visit Surrey RCMP website or go to www.icbc.com.