Road safety a focus with students set to return to class
The end of the summer is upon us, which means students will be returning to school next week. This will bring groups of kids traveling together, not only in school zones, but in all areas around the city.
The Medicine Hat Police Service wants to ensure kids remain safe and there are a few issues that come up each year around schools. U-turns, parking too close or on crosswalks, speeding and watching out for patrollers are the four most common.
Acting Sergeant Kurtis Ladouceur said, “people have got used to not seeing school patrollers, but they are back, and they are small. Everybody is good with slowing down in school and playground zones but it’s nice to have a reminder that schools are back in.”
U-turns aren’t allowed in school zones or playground zones. Often it is a parent, who has a reason for being there, dropping off their child(ren) and then needing to go in the opposite direction. However, it is safer and doesn’t take much extra time to go around the block.
Parking too close to a crosswalk is another concern. According to City of Medicine Hat Bylaw 4346, under Parking 18 (g), “a person driving a Vehicle shall not stop or Park the Vehicle: within five (5) metres from the near side or of a marked Crosswalk.”
The patrollers aren’t much taller than the average vehicle, so parking too close obscures the view of them.
“It doesn’t matter if you are there for five seconds or just dropping off, it doesn’t take long for a kid to shoot out,” said Ladouceur.
Kids are excited to go back to school, wearing their new clothes and shoes, showing off their new backpacks. It can lead to unpredictable behaviour, such as suddenly jetting across a road.
It also important to remember school buses will be back on the road, picking up and dropping off students, not only by and around schools.