Metro Vancouver back-to-school driving safety tips urge caution in school zones

As students return to class, Vancouver police are reminding motorists to slow down and stay alert in school zones.

Posted school-zone speed limits of 30 km/h are back in effect from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Some neighbourhoods have additional restrictions or longer school-zone hours, and drivers are being urged to check posted signs.

Vancouver Police have been stopping drivers in school zones, issuing tickets and warnings. Fines for speeding in those zones range from $196 to $253.

Vancouver Police Department Const. Darren Wong asked drivers to put away their phones, particularly during a busy week in which traffic congestion is increasing as people adjust to new schedules.

ICBC data show minors are more than twice as likely to be involved in a crash during morning and afternoon school commutes than at any other time of day. Harvey Kooner, ICBC's road safety and community co-ordinator, said an average of 80 people die each year in fatal collisions involving distracted driving, the second-leading cause of motor-vehicle crash deaths in B.C.

The risk is higher in September, when crashes involving minors are 37 per cent above the monthly average. Parents are encouraged to speak with children about road safety, including using marked crosswalks and making eye contact with drivers before stepping into the street.

Kooner said parents should have children exit vehicles on the side closest to the sidewalk rather than into the roadway. Children and guardians walking should look both ways while crossing and check again to ensure it is safe.

Road-safety initiatives will continue at schools across Vancouver over the next month.