It's that time again when parents, students and educators are busy preparing for the first day of school. The Nova Scotia RCMP will also be preparing for busier roads and to remind motorists to slow down.
Each year, police receive reports of vehicles passing school buses and speeding in school zones so when school starts, RCMP officers will be out to make sure motorists are obeying the rules in areas where children are present. In Nova Scotia, you can be fined $410 and lose six points off your license for failing to stop for a school bus.
Police are also reminding motorists that when driving in school zones during school hours, they must slow down and assume children are present. To help clarify the rules, when the speed limit is 50 km/h, motorists must slow to a maximum of 30 km/h when children are present. On weekends, evenings and holidays, motorists may drive the posted speed limit unless children are near.
Here are a few tips to help make the transition back to school safer for everyone:
· Stay focused on the road and be aware of what is happening around you.
· Slow down and be extra careful in school zones.
· Always stop for school buses.
· Always drive sober.
· Be courteous at school pick-up and drop-off times. Try not to block other cars or fire lanes.
· Approach crosswalks with caution and remember that pedestrians have the right of way.
We all have an important role to play to help keep everyone safe on the roads. For more back to school safety tips, follow us on Twitter at @RCMPNS ( https://twitter.com/RCMPNS ) and on Facebook at Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Nova Scotia ( https://www.facebook.com/rcmpns/ ).