With youth back to school it is important for drivers to remember to be wary when driving through school zones.
"The major offences the RCMP find which contribute to injuries and collisions are speed, distracted driving, failing to use a seatbelts, and intersection related offences such as making sure to stop or yield properly," Cpl. Kelly Guider of the Carlyle RCMP explains.
Obeying traffic signs is important for the safety of everyone. Often drivers become upset over having to slow down while passing through school zones with speeds ranging from 25 km/hr in Arcola to 30 km/hr in Carlyle and Manor as examples.
Slowing down through these zones is extremely important as youth may be taught to look both ways before crossing the street; but, often young people may forget causing them to dart out into the street after a ball during recess.
Drivers need to be alert and prepared to stop for this reason as the force of a collision, even if travelling 30 km/hr can cause severe injuries to a pedestrian. As recorded by CBC travelling at 40 km/hr creates a force of 70 percent more than 30 km/hr, while travelling 50 km/hr creates 180 percent more force than the typical 30 km/hr.
The Observer performed calculations, cross referencing numbers with an article from CBC, to find travelling across 200 metres of school zone at the recommend speed of 30 km/hr only takes 24 seconds. At 25 km/hr the same 200 metres takes 25 seconds, while 40 km/hr achieves a time of 18 seconds and 50 km/hr results in a time of 15 seconds.
Though the time difference is minimal, people often complain of having to slow down to such speeds through the zones. However, the difference in time it takes to stop could mean a life. At 25 km/hr a vehicle will take three and a half metres to make a complete stop. While travelling 30 km/hr it takes a typical vehicle five metres to stop, at 40 km/hr it takes nine metres to stop, and 50 km/hr takes 14 metres to come to a complete stop. This information was obtained through Forensic Dynamics Inc. which specializes in accident reconstructions. They provide a "Stopping Distance Calculator" on their website able to generate the approximate distance needed to stop based on speed and altered by road conditions.
When speaking with the Carlyle division of the RCMP it was discovered that fines for speeding through a school zone begin at $190 and increase for every kilometre over the limit.
In addition to needing to be aware while driving through school zones, it is necessary to practice diligence when approaching a school bus either loading or unloading students. When a school bus has its stop arm out and lights flashing drivers, approaching from either the rear or the opposite direction, must stop.
"The single greatest threat to the safety of children who ride school buses is motorists who pass the bus when children are loading and unloading," the Saskatchewan Driver's Handbook reads.
Instructions from the handbook follow stipulating youth are to stop at least five metres or 15 feet from the bus. Vehicles are to remain stopped until the stop arm is retracted and the flashing lights are turned off.
Passing a school bus with its warning lights and stop arm out is considered a serious offence, which will result in a fine of $360.
The only instance where people on the same road as the bus may continue travelling is if the bus has stopped on a divided highway and you are travelling in the opposite direction, otherwise vehicles travelling behind are required to stop.
RCMP is also concerned with distracted driving, which often comes with drivers whether high school students or parents checking messages on their phones.
"With distracted driving kids are checking their phone messages, and parents too, when they should only be paying attention to driving an nothing else," Cpl. Guider stated.
He continued to explain that fines for distracted driving are $280.
In relation to driving while distracted, Cpl. Guider encourages drivers to ensure their children wear seatbelts as if they are moving around excessively in the car it can become a distraction to the driver.
