Road Safety in School Zones: 5 Rules to Live by!

School zones are very busy places through which pedestrians, cyclists and motorists all travel. Children making their way to school can sometimes have trouble evaluating how far away and how fast vehicles are travelling, nor can they always tell where sounds are coming from. 

Whether you are a driver or a parent teaching your child how to stay safe, there are 5 road safety rules to follow in school zones. 

What to do if you are a driver:

1. Slow down and anticipate the presence of children.
2. Obey the speed limit and pedestrian crosswalks.
3. Avoid making any U-turns.
4. Be patient.
5. Plan your trips and leave earlier to ensure you are more relaxed and less inclined to drive fast to make up for lost time. 

Did you know that speeding increases your braking distance? Tests show that driving 10 km/h over the speed limit can make the difference between life and death. 

What to do if you are a student:

1. Choose the right place to walk and be seen.
2. Obey the traffic lights.
3. Get into the habit of moving away from the bus’s wheels after getting off.
4. Make eye contact with the bus driver after getting off and check to see whether cars are coming before crossing the street.
5. Keep away from large vehicles and keep outside their blind spots.

Take a few minutes with your child and have some fun exploring Axelle and Pitchouf: Let’s Go! This educational tool includes videos and interactive games that help children develop safe behaviours when travelling to and from school.