Five driving tips to keep kids safe in school zones

School zones are busy places with kids and adults walking or wheeling, and cars and buses dropping-off or picking-up students. Unfortunately, people in BC often report seeing poor driving in school zones that puts pedestrians and other drivers at risk.

With increased traffic comes a need for extra attention from parents and caregivers, along with drivers who are passing through these busy spaces. Here are some tips to help make school zones safer for everyone.

1. Build in time to prevent rushing. We understand the pressure parents can feel when it comes to dropping off and picking up their children. Anticipate school zone congestion and give yourself extra time to get through it safely. Try keeping to a morning routine to make sure everyone stays on track, or prep clothes and lunches before bedtime.
2. Expect the unexpected. Look out for safety risks such as kids darting from cars, kids who are on wheels and other pedestrians.
3. Follow school zone rules. Respect your school’s drop off and pick up procedures, along with traffic rules such as driving within the speed limit, stopping at marked cross walks and not driving distracted. If you’re not familiar, brush up on the laws on driving in BC school zones.
4. Reduce congestion. Consider walking, cycling with your child or parking a few blocks away and walking your child the rest of the way to school.
5. Focus on what you can control. No matter what’s going on around you, be patient and courteous. Reacting with extreme frustration may aggravate the situation and increase the risk of unsafe behaviours.

Interested in helping keep students safe in your community?

Together, we create a safer and more protected province for everyone who calls BC home. The BCAA School Safety Patrol Program (SSP) has been keeping children in school zones safe since 1929. We are proud to have over 1000 students participate in SSP, each acting as leaders and making our BC communities safer.

BCAA can provide all the equipment and training resources to run a safe and successful program in your school, free of charge.

Interested in registering to set up a program in your school? Learn more about the BCAA School Safety Program here.

BC is Ours to Protect

Find out more about our commitment to protecting the people and province of BC here.