School zones back in effect as B.C. students return to class

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – Watch your speed — schools are back in session, and that means school zones are too.

Drivers are being reminded to reacquaint themselves with the rules of the road, with more children expected to be out and about as of Tuesday.

Various police agencies say their officers will be out to ensure pedestrian safety, with the North Vancouver RCMP reminding you not following the rules could cost you a hefty fine.

Driving up to 20 kilometres per hour over the limit in a school or playground zone in B.C. could result in a $196 ticket, while speeds of 21-40 km/h above the posted limit could land you a $253 fine.

Failing to obey a school guard or school patrol comes with a $167 penalty, while failing to yield to a pedestrian at a crosswalk also comes with the same fine.

Not stopping for a school bus will cost you even more, at $368.

It's back to school and we're reminding drivers to brush up on their morning driving routines, with special attention to students walking to school. Officers will be out watching for school zone speeders this week and beyond… Fines are https://t.co/i52HIPiTtx pic.twitter.com/KIByvhZsPM

— North Vancouver RCMP (@nvanrcmp) September 7, 2021

“There are a myriad of issues that happen in school zones. We’ve witnessed everything from speeding, to aggressive driving. We see parents that park on crosswalks and encourage their children to jump out and run across the street. People pull away from the curb without checking mirrors, distracted driving — you name it and it happens in a school zone,” explained Shawn Pettipas, director of community engagement at BCAA.

He’s urging everyone to keep their eyes on the road, noting safety is a group effort. If you’re caught distracted driving, you could be hit with a fine of $368.

When it comes to the biggest offenders, Pettipas says parents don’t get off scot-free.

“There’s a school zone and at a certain point in time every day, everybody descends on that one, small, geographical area. So it’s quite congested. Parents have these new routines and they have these commitments to drop their kids off, so it can be a little bit stressful. People do tend to rush through these things, and when you’re rushing you’re probably not making the right decisions,” he told NEWS 1130.

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“We know parents don’t want to do dangerous things, but when you end up in these situations and you are rushing, often times you can make bad decisions.”

He says the solution comes down to being focused: follow the rules of the road, follow posted speed limits, and keep your eyes open for children who may suddenly come out from between vehicles.

Pettipas also recommends having a conversation with your kids about road safety.

In addition to potential tickets and fines, drivers can also lose points on their licences with each infraction.

-With files from Mike Lloyd