DriveSmartBC

This article may be one of many that you read over the next week or so reminding you that our children will soon be on their way to school again. They will remind you that school zones will be in effect, school crossing guards must be obeyed and that caution around stopped school buses is required.

I am frequently asked why school buses don't have seatbelts. The Alabama School Bus Seat Belt Pilot Project put seatbelts in school buses and studied their benefits. The study found a wearing rate of just under 62%. This resulted in, on average, saving 0.13 lives and 7.60 injuries per year.

School's back, and that means 30 km/h school zones are also in effect. A car travelling at 50 km/h in ideal conditions takes 37 metres to stop. At 30 km/h, you can stop in less than half that distance. ICBC's tip features a crossing guard explaining why it's so important drivers slow down in school zones.

The case of R v Ashir was heard in traffic court before Judicial Justice of the Peace H.W. Gordon in Victoria, B.C. The dispute involved a traffic ticket for speeding in a school zone and the determination of what was meant by "a regular school day." Justice Gordon also comments on what he sees as deficiencies in the wording of the section that would prevent the conviction of drivers traveling over 30 km/h in a school zone under certain conditions.

Safe Kids USA has released a report that explores the extent to which drivers are engaging in other activities while traveling through school zones. It is very likely that the observations made in this report are representative of distracted driving behaviours that occur in BC school zones as well.

September means kids are heading back to school, so drivers need to be extra careful. Remember that school zones are in effect again and that means lower speed limits. This month's tip will help remind you what to watch out for in school zones.

The crossing guard is taking on a big responsibility when it comes to helping our children cross busy highways and intersections on their way to and from school each day. Traffic is in a hurry, the children don't always pay the attention that they should and sometimes the road conditions are poor or visibility is not good. It is not a job to be taken lightly!

It's time again for the annual school zone column. You know, the one where it says slow down, obey the school zone speed limits and watch out for children who are too excited about going back to school to watch for traffic? I write something like this every year, but maybe this year it's time to look at the situation just a little differently.

Having looked at School Zones in last week's column, I will continue the theme and look at the school bus this week.