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Vancouver Police launch School Zone safety blitz as classes resume

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – As kids all over the Lower Mainland get back into their school routines, police in Vancouver will be doling out hard lessons about traffic rules in School Zones.

A strong contingent of traffic enforcement officers welcomed students back to class at Renfrew Elementary this morning, as the VPD kicked off its back to school road traffic safety awareness campaign.

“The rules are simple, but sadly, many people ignore them, especially when they’re in a hurry,” says VPD Deputy Chief Warren Lemcke.

Officers will be out in force for the next few weeks watching for risky driving behaviour near schools.

“You may not see the harm in stopping in a no stopping zone or pulling up in a bus zone or going slightly over the speed limit. However, tragedy can happen in a split second. The rules are in place for a reason,” adds Lemcke.

The School Zone speed limit is typically 30 km/h between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays. Drivers are also required to yield to pedestrians, and remain stopped until everyone has made it safely to the other curb.

Fines for speeding in a School Zone range from $196 to $253.

BC Minister of Public Safety Mike Farnworth is calling attention to distracted driving in School Zones, saying it’s up to drivers to stay alert around students who may not have road safety in mind.

“Too many people think that their cell phone call or that text message is more important than kids’ safety. The fact of the matter is, it’s not. It’s kids’ safety that comes first,” he says.

Farnworth adds similar enforcement efforts are taking place all across BC.

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