September 7, 2010

Young children involved in most school-age car/pedestrian collisions: Manitoba Public Insurance
Students returning to school means more pedestrian/cyclist traffic

Children aged five to 14 accounted for the majority of school-aged pedestrians injured in Manitoba, according to Manitoba Public Insurance data.

The data reported that this age group made up six of every 10 school-age victims of car/pedestrian collisions in the province. In total, there are 48 pedestrians from this age group injured each year in Manitoba, said Clif Eden, Manager of Road Safety, Manitoba Public Insurance

“Many of these pedestrians were hit while going to, or returning from school,” said Eden. “Manitoba drivers need to focus on making the roads safer and re-familiarizing themselves with safe driving tips as students head back to school.”

The return of students results in a dramatic increase in pedestrian activity in many neighbourhoods. Unfortunately, several thousand Canadian children are hit yearly by motor vehicles while playing outdoors or walking to and from school, said Eden.

Many students also travel to school on their bicycle. One in four cyclists struck by cars in Manitoba are five to 19 years old, according to MPI data. On average, 60 school-aged cyclists are hit each year by a vehicle.

“Many young children don’t comprehend the dangers associated with crossing a street unsafely,” said Eden. “The onus of responsibility lies with motorists to ensure everyone gets to school safely.”

Parents can also take role in reducing vehicle-pedestrian collisions by discussing road safety with their children.

To assist with school-zone safety, Manitoba Public Insurance offers to loan out speed reader boards through its School Zone SpeedWatch program, a partnership of the public auto insurer, police agencies throughout the province, the City of Winnipeg Public Works Department and the Manitoba School Boards Association. School or parent groups can borrow the equipment to raise drivers’ awareness of their speeds as they pass through school zones.

To avoid a collision, drivers and pedestrians are encouraged to observe the following safety tips:

• Look well ahead to spot school buses and school zone signs; reduce speed in school zones, and wait for children to cross completely before proceeding.
• If you are driving your children to school, drop them off in a safe area, away from traffic; use a designated drop-off zone if the school has one.
• Stop at least five metres behind a school bus when the upper red lights begin to flash, and do not proceed until the "stop sign" is closed and the red lights stop flashing. Motorists travelling in both directions must stop for the school bus, except if the road is divided by a median.
• Scan under parked cars for the feet of children approaching traffic, and make lane changes early to allow room for children on bicycles, skateboards or roller blades.

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