Schools and Playgrounds

Information related to school zones, school buses and playground zones.

Back to School: It's Time to Change the Way You Drive

school zone signWhen school starts, the road itself doesn't change. The signs are the same, the traffic laws are the same and your vehicle still works exactly as it did during summer.

What changes is what you have to watch for.

The Ideal Elementary School Crosswalk: Blueprint for a 30 km/h Two-Lane Road

pedestrian crossing highway signWhen installing a school crosswalk for the first time on a two-lane road with a 30 km/h speed limit, the design goal is clear. The system must focus on maximum visibility, eliminating driver distraction, and protecting short sightlines for elementary-aged children. An ideal installation does not rely on paint alone; it combines structural narrowing, physical elevation, and active electronics to create a crossing environment that reduces the opportunity for driver and pedestrian error.

The Walking School Bus

School BusOur driving centred culture and the recent decision to end the spring and fall time change have raised an important issue. It's going to be dark while children walk to school and the province and municipalities have failed to create safe pedestrian infrastructure to protect them. Forming a Walking School Bus group may be a quickly implemented short term answer until complete street upgrades are made.

BCAA School Patrol Program

image of a school patrol at workThe school patrol Program is a public service provided free of charge to elementary schools by the BCAA. Part of the CAA's School Safety Patrol Program it is recognized as an outstanding initiative for reducing injuries and deaths among 5-12 year olds.

Playground Zone: Driving Test Fail

image of playground zone signQuestion: Our daughter failed her road test due to not reducing her speed to 30 km/h as she drove through a playground zone. We don't understand this because there were no signs were present.

Speed Watch is Back to School

image of speed watch logoToday was the first day back at school for elementary students where I live. The school is on an arterial road with a posted speed of 60 km/h that is often ignored by many drivers. I stood with speed watch volunteers for an hour from 10:00 to 11:00 am and was pleasantly surprised by what I saw.

School Zone Speed Enforcement

school zone signQuestion: I've been living in the Armstrong Elementary school area for the last 1.5 years and I have never seen any speed enforcement taking place in the school zone on Rosedale Avenue or Pleasant Valley Road. It's beginning to feel like I'm the only one who knows the speed limit is 30 km/h. Is it as simple as calling the RCMP and requesting that they do enforcement here?

A Different Approach to School Zone Safety

School Zone SignTwo years ago I wrote about my experience that a significant part of the safety problem in a school zone was caused by teachers and parents themselves. Their driving behaviour as they showed up to work or dropped off their children sometimes left a lot to be desired. Did they not realize that they were contributing to the problem?