Watch out for students

Sep 10, 2020 | 5:44 AM

After months of no school, drivers are being warned to watch out today (Sept. 10) as students return to class.

“2020’s return to the classroom will be different from other years, with many schools having varying start and end times. Drivers will have to be extra vigilant when travelling in school zones, as students may be picked up or dropped off at unconventional times depending on the school’s efforts to limits students in the building. Drivers should be extra careful when approaching crosswalks as students may be distracted by putting on masks, and may not be as careful when crossing at crosswalks, or designated areas,” said Constable Chris Terleski, media relations officer with Vernon North Okanagan RCMP.

Starting today, RCMP officers and City of Vernon RCMP volunteers will be present in school zones throughout the area.

The Vernon North Okanagan RCMP would like to remind you that whether you are parent, teacher, or motorist, we all have a key role to play in ensuring our kids head back to school safely.

Pedestrians need to take responsibility for their safety:

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Don’t always assume you have the right of way as a pedestrian
Try and make eye contact with drivers before crossing the road
do not become distracted with looking at or texting on your mobile phone while walking
Listening to loud music on headphones can dull your senses to oncoming dangers
Stay alert until you have safely reached the other side of the road, cars can come from all directions
In the evening, wear bright colored clothing or a reflective arm/leg band that will help you be seen by motorists
Be aware of parked vehicles in a parking lot or on the road. A driver may not see you between parked vehicles and you may not see them moving. Before crossing or walking through a parking lot, stop and look left-right-left around parked vehicles. Children should avoid taking shortcuts through parking lots.

When encountering a school bus, drivers are reminded that:

It is illegal for a vehicle to pass a stopped school bus with its red light flashing.
The red light is a legal stop sign that has the same authority as any other stop sign.
All vehicles must stop when the school bus displays flashing red warning lights and extends the stop signal arm. Vehicles may not pass until the flashing red lights and signals are turned off.
All vehicles traveling in the same or opposite direction as the bus are always required to stop.
Keep an eye out for children walking or riding their bikes to and from school.

General tips for motorists around schools include:

Slow down
Be especially careful when driving on neighborhood streets and around school zones, always expect the unexpected.
Every school day, unless otherwise posted, a 30km/h speed limit is in effect in school zones from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Be alert for youngsters walking to and from school as you back out of your driveway or leave your parking garage.
We want school children to be safe. Watch for them on bicycles, especially at intersections and driveways. Young bicyclists have a tendency to dart out of driveways without looking for traffic.
If you decide to meet your child at the bus stop after school, wait on the side where the child will be dropped off, not across the street. Children can get so excited at seeing you after school they might forget safety rules and dash across the street.