Burnaby RCMP enhancing school zone enforcement as students return to class

Burnaby

2024-09-03 09:57 PDT

As students head back to school, Burnaby RCMP is conducing enhanced enforcement and encouraging all drivers to slow down, follow traffic laws, and avoid dangerous driving behaviours commonly seen in school zones.

This year as kids head back to class, road users should expect to see additional speed enforcement being conducted in school zones across the city by Burnaby RCMP Traffic Services, Bike Unit and Youth Section, as well as City of Burnaby Bylaws and ICBC.

Despite areas near schools being busy with people, including young students, officers routinely see drivers disobeying traffic rules during the school year -- especially during pickup and drop-off times, creating dangerous situations that put everyone at risk.

Drivers should expect to see us in school zones across Burnaby over the next week few weeks and into the school year, said Staff Sgt. Thane Royce with Burnaby RCMP’s Traffic Services. While school zones are designed to enhance safety, officers routinely see drivers and parents in a rush, completely ignoring traffic laws meant to protect road users, including students. Being late or in a hurry is not an excuse to drive dangerously.

Burnaby RCMP’s Traffic Services has compiled a list of some of the most commonly noted traffic infractions officers typically observe in school zones.

Burnaby RCMP top five list of dangerous behaviours in school zones:

Speeding: School zones in Burnaby are in effect from 7 am to 10 pm on school days, which means a speed limit of 30 km/h. Despite clear signage, officers routinely ticket drivers for driving well-over the speed limit near schools. Drivers ticketed for speeding in a school zone can expect a $196 to $253 fine under the Motor Vehicle Act. In 2021, Burnaby RCMP officers issued 114 tickets for speeding in a school zone.
U-Turns: While making a U-turn may be tempting for drivers in some situations, they are dangerous and illegal manoeuvres and an unexpected element in the normal flow of traffic, including in school zones. This sudden irregular movement may result in other motorists or pedestrians not having enough time to see or react to the vehicle conducting the U-turn, which can result in collisions.
Distracted driving: According to ICBC, distracted and inattentive driving is the second leading contributor in car crash fatalities in B.C., and on average results in 76 deaths each year. In addition, distracted and inattentive driving is one of the leading causes of crashes with pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists. September is also distracted driving enforcement month in B.C., which means an increase in enforcement as the new school year kicks off.
Disobeying Stop Signs: A stop sign always means that you must come to a complete stop. Too often, officers see drivers ignoring or rolling through stop signs. This can be especially dangerous in school zones, as crosswalks and intersections can be busy with children, families, and other vehicles.
Stopping in no stopping and no parking zones: School zones are designed with safety in mind, which means it’s important for drivers to follow signage. Stopping in no stopping and no parking zones can obstruct the flow of traffic, and block critical sight lines for other drivers and pedestrians, causing unexpected hazards.

Two Burnaby RCMP officers in uniform stand beside a road on a sunny day with one using a laser speed detector

In addition to driving safety for back to school, Burnaby RCMP would also like to encourage cyclists and pedestrians to be aware and remain vigilant when near roadways, which includes avoiding the use of mobile devices and headphones.

Burnaby RCMP would also like to remind pedestrians to cross at marked crosswalks, not mid-block.
Other safety tips for pedestrians can be found here.

Heading back to school is an exciting time for families. Give yourself time to get where you’re going safely. Using common sense and sticking to the rules of the road can help ensure a safe school year ahead for everyone, including kids, Royce said.

A police officer in uniform leans into the window of a pulled over car outside a school on a sunny day