With the school year kicking off next week the Prince Albert Police Service would like to remind residents to slow down in school zones.
A reminder that motorists need to slow down to 30 kilometers an hour in school zones which are in effect from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. September 1 to June 30.
Prince Albert Police Traffic Division will be out the first week of school heavily enforcing school zone safety and issuing tickets.
School zones are enforced for the safety and well-being of children in our community. A few tips for motorists and parents this school year:
-Be alert. Put down any distractions such as cell phones, make-up, food and be aware of your surroundings. Be able to anticipate that a child could at any moment come across the road.
-Talk to your children about pedestrian safety. Do a rehearsal on how to watch for vehicles and look both ways before crossing the street. Make sure they know how to use crosswalks and crosswalk lights. During the summer months it can be easy to forget safety rules and a refresher in traffic safety is good practice before school starts.
-Bus safety: Make sure your child knows the rules to always cross in front of a bus instead of behind and to keep a safe distance from large vehicles and be aware of their surroundings.
-Be aware of school drop-off and pick-up zones and rules related to your school on areas to park for drop-off and pick-up.
-Plan your route ahead of time and make sure to leave plenty of time before you leave for school/work. Prepare lunches/meals the night before if possible and organize clothes/lunch kits etc. for the next day to avoid the morning rush.
-Motorists take your time and let children and guardians completely cross the crosswalk before proceeding in your vehicle. Not only is it courteous, but there could be other children following.
The Prince Albert Police Service wishes all children and their parents a safe and successful school year.
Sgt. Travis Willie