With the start of the school year just around the corner, Surrey Police Service (SPS) is offering important reminders and practical safety tips for Surrey residents of all ages. 

SPS is reminding motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians that September 2 marks the resumption of school for Surrey students, and the roads, areas around schools, and the neighbourhoods that students commute to and from their schools in will become very busy. “Back to school” is more than just one day, it spans several weeks when not only more people are commuting, but there are more children going to and from their schools and SPS wants to remind everyone to be extra cautious and take care. 

SPS is sharing the following safety tips to help everyone have a safe return to school and work:

• Give yourself more time for your commute – plan for busier roads, more traffic, more cyclists, and more pedestrians, when classes resume.
• Familiarize yourself with school zone locations on your normal routes and make sure you follow the school zone speed limits.
• Recognize that schools will be busy locations where vehicles, bicycles, and pedestrians will be congregating particularly before and after school and during the lunch break.
• Motorists should be mindful of school buses and passenger vehicles dropping off and collecting students in school areas and always stop if the school bus indicates to do so.
• Distracted driving always negatively impacts road safety – focus on the complex task of driving.
• For younger children, parents should try to accompany students to and from school or have them walk with a buddy or in a group.
• Parents transporting children to school should use appropriate drop-off locations, which are not in traffic or areas where children will need to navigate vehicles and congestion. Properly parking a short distance away with immediate sidewalk access is much safer than double or triple parking by the front entrance of the school, for example.
• Parents and students should review a route to use to and from school and equip children with important information (e.g. contact numbers, home and school addresses) as well as a plan should they require assistance along the way.
• Students should practice pedestrian and bicycle safety. It is important to be aware of your surroundings, and to avoid using headphones/earbuds or looking at your smartphone while crossing the street. For students cycling to school, ensure you wear a helmet, and your bicycle is in good operating condition.
• Pedestrians should be alert and look in both directions when crossing streets and be extra vigilant and aware of their surroundings when near student drop-off and pick-up locations.

Back-to-school is an exciting time for children and parents. Efforts by the community to elevate safety can ensure that this is a good experience for everyone. SPS officers will be focusing on school zones for several weeks to ensure that speed limits and safe practices are observed by everyone. 

Road safety is public safety, and everyone plays an important role in keeping our community safe.