As summer break draws to a close, so too is a new school year about to begin.
Much excitement surrounds the children's return to school, notes Const. Nicole Hall, media liaison for the Comox Valley RCMP. Along with this, she adds, comes an increased risk to their safety on the roadways.
Please keep the following in mind when driving:
• The posted speed limit in playgrounds is 30 km/h, 365 days a year from dawn to dusk.
• The posted speed limit in many school zones is 30 km/h on school days and at posted times.
• Drivers need to watch for children walking and on bicycles, especially near intersections.
• A child's field of vision is one-third narrower than that of an adult.
• Children are easily distracted and believe motor vehicles can stop instantly.
• The majority of pedestrian traffic injuries happen to children aged five to nine years at mid-block crossings and to 10- to 14-year-olds at intersections.
• A vehicle takes 13 metres to stop when being driven at 30 km/h. It takes 27 metres, more than double, when going 50 km/h.
Please use extra caution and slow down while driving on our roadways. Police will be out reminding people to slow down — through their presence, warnings and violation tickets.
"By working together, we hope to keep our loved ones safe as they return back to school," Hall concludes.
— Comox Valley RCMP