Driving Tips > Safety Columns
Play it safe near schools
A child suddenly runs into the path of your car – a driver’s worst nightmare. With children returning to Manitoba schools this week, it’s your responsibility as a driver to watch for increased vehicle and pedestrian activity near schools.
Go slowly
While there may not be posted reduced speed restrictions within Manitoba school zones, you should drive slowly and be prepared to stop suddenly when children are on or near a road or close to a school or playground. You can’t legally pass another moving vehicle in a school area within 15 minutes of the opening or closing of classes, or at any time when children are nearby.
Yield the right-of-way to pedestrians
Remember that pedestrians have the right-of-way at crosswalks. The only exception to this rule occurs if the pedestrian is on the opposite side of a divided roadway separated by a median.
Watch for school safety patrols
The bright orange safety vests worn by school safety patrol members give you a visual clue that children are nearby. Safety patrol members are trained to help students safely cross streets, so please obey their signals.
Use caution near school buses
If you are approaching the front or back
of a school bus with flashing lights or
other warning devices, you must stop at
least five metres from the bus. Remain
stopped until the warning signal is
turned off or the bus begins moving.
Flashing amber lights warn you that the
bus is about to stop.
On a divided roadway, if there is a physical separation such as a median between your vehicle and the stopped school bus, you don’t have to stop. Instead, you should slow down and watch for children.
For more information, watch The 60-Second Driver on CTV, or visit the following sections on this website:
- School Patrols, School Buses and Crosswalks in Driving Tips
- Watch for school children in Vulnerable Road Users
- You can access the 60-Second video on Tire Inflation directly
