Police stress safety as students head back to class in Halifax

Thursday is back-to-school day for thousands of public school students in the Halifax area, and local police say that means everyone will need to be a little extra cautious.

The RCMP says drivers can expect to see more vehicles on the roads and more pedestrians now that school is back, and adds that drivers need to be particularly careful in school zones.

“When the approaching speed limit is 50 km/h, motorists must slow to a maximum of 30 km/h in the school zone,” reads a media release from the RCMP. “When the approaching speed limit is more than 50 km/h, motorists must slow to a maximum of 50 km/h in the school zone.”

The Mounties say speeding in a school zone puts people in danger, and can result in a sizeable fine and driving suspension.

There will be more school buses on the roads too. Police say if the school bus is parked in the street with its stop sign extended and red lights flashing, drivers cannot pass the bus.

Halifax Regional Police meantime says families should ensure students know some traffic safety rules too, like trying to cross streets in marked crosswalks, looking both ways before crossing and not to “dart out” between parked cars.

HRP also says it’s a good idea to make sure students know their route if walking to school and encourage them to walk with a friend if they don’t require adult supervision.

Outside of traffic rules, the RCMP is also reminding students of potential dangers in the internet age.

Mounties say students shouldn’t accept online friend requests from people they don’t know and should be aware that if they send a photo over the internet they won’t have control over who sees it or where it goes.

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