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The Saint John Police will be conducting a Back-to-School Safety Campaign between September 6-9, 2022. With the excitement of children going back to school is it incumbent upon drivers to be vigilant and aware of road safety. Children can be easily distracted especially in the early stages of returning to school so everyone needs to do their part when it comes to traffic safety.
Through education and enforcement, Traffic Management Officers will target offences, with a focus on school zones and bus routes, that endanger students, pedestrians and the motoring public.
Nearly a quarter of drivers report witnessing a near miss or collision in a school zone, more than half of which involved a child. The Top 3 unsafe motorist behaviors seen in Canadian school zones are speeding, illegal parking/stopping and distracted driving (CAA, 2019).
What’s the law?
Remember most fines amounts are doubled in school zones and for overtaking a school bus with flashing red lights.
Speeding
140.1(1) MVA: No person shall drive a vehicle in a school zone during the hours of 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., on the days during which a public school or private school in the vicinity of that school zone is in session, at a speed in excess of (a) thirty kilometers per hour in a municipality, (b) the speed limit prescribed in accordance with the provisions of subsection (2) or subsection 142(2) or (2.1), or (c) fifty kilometers per hour in other locations where the speed limit is not otherwise posted.
School buses
188(1) MVA: The driver of a motor vehicle meeting or overtaking a stopped school bus upon a highway when flashing red lights are displayed on such school bus shall bring such motor vehicle to a stop at not less than five meters from such school bus and shall not pass such bus until it is again in motion or the flashing red lights cease to be displayed.
Crossing Guard
169.1(4) MVA: When a stop sign is displayed as provided in subsection (3), the driver of any vehicle approaching the cross walk shall stop the vehicle no closer than five meters from the cross walk.
Crosswalks
170(1) MVA: Subject to the provisions of subsection 171(2) when traffic control signals are not in place or not in operation the driver of a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way, slowing down or stopping if need be to so yield, to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within a cross walk, but no pedestrian shall suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run into the path of a vehicle which is so close that it is impossible for the driver to yield the right-of-way.
Together a safe, secure, healthy community
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