The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), Brant Detachment, wishes to provide several safety tips in an effort to ensure children in our community have a safe, healthy, and happy school year.
Parents and guardians must ensure that children know the rules and safety recommendations before the first day of school.
“We consider pedestrian safety a top priority in our community, especially near schools where parents, teachers, motorists and children must be extra cautious,” said Insp. Andrea Quenneville, Brant County Detachment Commander.
Drivers must pay attention and adhere to the rules of the road keeping everyone safe including those within school zones.
For parents and children:
- Walk on sidewalks when available, not on the road,
- Always cross at an intersection or crosswalk,
- Obey crossing guards,
- Be visible and indicate your intention to cross,
- Look and listen for traffic – turn off or mute any device that impairs your hearing,
- Cyclists should wear a properly fitted and fastened bicycle helmets and,
- Cyclists must also follow the same rules of the road as motorists and stay alert to their surroundings at all times.
For drivers in school zones:
- Reduce speed and drive with caution,
- Be prepared to stop at all times,
- Wait for children to reach the sidewalk before proceeding,
- When signaled to do so, stop for school buses,
- Anticipate children in the area, they could run out from between vehicles or behind buses,
- Always be prepared to yield to pedestrians waiting to cross the roadway, or while approaching a cross walk and,
- Remember children expect you to stop.
Officers will be patrolling Brant County roadways throughout the school year, with a focus on school zones and bus stops.
