September 8, 2009

Safety a priority as students return to school: Manitoba Public Insurance

It’s that time again ─ back to school for thousands of students who return to the classroom.

Manitoba drivers need to focus on making the roads safer and re-familiarizing themselves with safe driving tips as students head back to school, encourages Manitoba Public Insurance.

The return of students results in a dramatic increase in pedestrian activity in many neighbourhoods. Unfortunately, more than 4,000 Canadian children are hit yearly by motor vehicles while playing outdoors or walking to school, says Clif Eden, Manitoba Public Insurance manager of road safety.

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

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, 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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