Today’s lesson: School zones are September’s Traffic Spotlight, so learn to slow down & #KeepKidsSafe
Regina, SK (July 31, 2018) — It’s the first day of school, and school zones across the country are once again buzzing with activity. During September, SGI and law enforcement are focusing on school zone safety, and some important lessons we all need to keep in mind.
First Period: MATH
Today’s lesson: School Zones + Speeding = Dangerous and Expensive.
Speed limits are often lower in school zones, and fines for speeding in a school zone are higher than regular tickets (and were recently increased). Obey the posted signs.
Exceeding the speed limit by 20 km/h = a $310 ticket, when you add up the base fine, the excess km/h charges, and the victims of crime surcharge. (Trust us; we always got A’s in math.) And a vehicle ticketed 40km/h over the limit = $570.
Second Period: PHYSICS
Today’s lesson: When a vehicle collides with a pedestrian, the pedestrian always loses.
The faster a vehicle is travelling, the more likely it is to kill or injure a pedestrian in a collision. One study found that a vehicle striking a pedestrian at 50 km/h results in a fatality 55 per cent of the time. Furthermore, higher speeds make it harder to avoid collisions because they reduce reaction time and increase stopping distance.
A MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL
“Many of the pedestrians in school zones are children who are smaller, more vulnerable and don’t always follow the traffic rules,” said Penny McCune, Chief Operating Officer of the Auto Fund. “It’s important that motorists lower their speed, yield to pedestrians and watch out for kids who may dart out unexpectedly. Remember to obey commands from crossing guards, and take care around school buses that have stopped to load or unload kids.”
Homework
Some of the most important lessons are taught at home. Parents, remember to talk to your kids about how to keep safe in a school zone:
- Cross at crosswalks and controlled intersections, instead of jaywalking.
- Make eye contact with drivers and wait until they stop before crossing.
- Heads up, screens down! Pedestrians AND drivers should both avoid distractions.
About SGI CANADA
Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI) is the province’s self-sustaining auto insurance fund. SGI operates 21 claims centres and five salvage centres across Saskatchewan with a head office in Regina. SGI also works with a network of nearly 400 motor licence issuers across the province. Customers can now do some transactions online. For more information, visit www.sgicanada.ca.
Source: SGI CANADA
Tags: driving habits, driving safety, school safety, school zones, SGI