Back to school prompts school zone safety reminders

CAA Saskatchewan is reminding drivers and pedestrians to slow down and take their time on the road as students make their way back into the classroom.

Students are preparing to say goodbye to summer and hello to their teachers as another school year gets back in session.

CAA Saskatchewan says drivers and pedestrians should once again be prepared on the road as students make their way back into the classroom.

“It’ll take a while for us all to get organized again and get those routines down pat,” said Angel Blair, senior communications specialist with CAA Saskatchewan.

Blair said there are a few things people can do to ensure the best first day back. They include staying alert, avoiding distracted driving, and knowing the rules of the road. A study done by CAA shows both speeding and illegal U-turns are major concerns during this time of year.

“It’s everyone’s job to just keep this in mind,” Blair said. “We have to really keep practising these safety habits.”

One of the biggest mistakes both drivers and pedestrians make is not making eye contact before crossing the street.

Troy Davies, public affairs director for Medavie Health Services West, said that while calls are generally rare, the ones the ambulance service attends to are cases where drivers assumed they were seen by pedestrians crossing streets.

“Making eye contact … before you cross the street is probably the biggest hint that we would give out there,”  Davies said.