As students return to class next week, a new survey by the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) reveals that nearly one in three B.C. drivers admit to speeding in school zones during school hours. The details of the survey are available here.
According to the survey conducted by Ipsos, 31% of drivers said they speed through school zones at least “sometimes,” and 4% admitted they “always” do it while the 30 km/h limit is in effect. The survey also found that 91% of respondents have witnessed a driver speeding in a school zone, and almost half said they see it frequently.
“With the school year beginning, our priority is making sure that students, family members, and school staff all return safely home at the end of each day,” said Lisa Beare, Minister of Education and Child Care. “Drivers staying alert and obeying speed limits, and teaching children and youth road safety skills and awareness, protects students and everyone in communities near schools.”
ICBC road safety manager Kathleen Nadalin said ignoring school and playground zone limits puts children in danger. “We want drivers to understand that school zone speed limits are lower for one critical reason: to protect the lives of students, their families, and other road users in and around our schools,” Nadalin said.
The risks are highest in September. On average, 50 children are injured in crashes while walking or biking across B.C. during the month, the most of any time of year. ICBC says three children are killed and 402 are injured in crashes involving walking or cycling every year across the province.
Unsafe behaviours in school zones extend beyond speeding. Drivers surveyed said they often see distracted driving, unsafe drop-offs and pick-ups, illegal parking or stopping, and children crossing mid-block. More than a third of respondents said they have witnessed a collision or near-miss in a school zone, with half of those incidents involving a child.
To address the issue, ICBC announced in a news release that it is partnering this September with police and Speed Watch volunteers to monitor driver behaviour and remind the public that school and playground zone limits are back in effect.
School zones carry a 30 km/h speed limit from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on school days unless otherwise posted, while playground zones have the same limit in place from dawn to dusk daily.
The insurer has also invested more than $1.6 million into 105 school safety projects across B.C. since 2020, including pedestrian signals, flashing beacons and speed reader boards. Last year alone, ICBC funded 18 projects worth $428,000.
ICBC is also urging parents and caregivers to review safety practices with children before the school year begins, such as practicing walking or cycling routes together and teaching proper crossing techniques.
The survey results and safety reminders were released in an ICBC news release on August 26.
During the summer months when school is not in session I routinely drive 50 kmh in “school zones” for the very good reason that there are no students to protect when school is not in session. (And I do have a school zone at the foot of a hill near me where I can do that without having my foot on the gas pedal!)
Obviously starting next week all that changes and it’s back to 30 kmh during the specified portion of the day.