With the start of a new school year upon us, so are the reminders to be extra careful and slow down through school zones.
Starting Sept. 5, drivers must abide by the 30 km/h speed limits in school zones, from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. on school days, or hours otherwise shown on the school sign.
In addition, playground zone signs (diamond-shaped) are in effect dawn till dusk, every day, 365 days per year.
According to ICBC, and average of 42 children were injured every year in Lower Mainland school and playground zones between 2011 and 2015. Four children – aged five to 18 – are killed while walking or cycling and 253 are injured in crashes, most recent data shows.
RELATED: Let’s keep school zones free from idiocy
#BackToSchool = 30km/hr school zones are back in effect. @ICBC says average of 72 kids were injured in school/playground zones 2011-15 #bced pic.twitter.com/mLQWd1OitW
— Ashley Wadhwani (@ashwadhwani) September 5, 2017
“Every driver should consider how with just one bad decision – like speeding or texting – the worst can happen, especially in a school or playground zone,” Minister of Public Safety Mike Farnworth said in a statement.
Fines for drivers caught speeding in school zones range from $196 to $483.
Keep an eye out for children walking or riding their bikes to and from school. #Backtoschool pic.twitter.com/AsVag499fQ
— BCRCMP (@BCRCMP) September 5, 2017
With files from Octavian Lacatusu, Black Press Media
@ashwadhwani
ashley.wadhwani@bpdigital.ca
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