City reminds residents about back-to-school safety

The new school year begins on Tuesday, August 22, and we want to remind residents about the role they play in protecting our community’s youth.

Speed limits: The speed limit in school and playground zones is 30 km/h. These reduced speeds help ensure that drivers can react quickly to unexpected situations. Keep an eye out for the posted speed limit signage. Some school zones have blue boxes around street lights to act as a visual cue to remind drivers they’re in a school zone.

Be alert: Keep your eyes on the road at all times, scanning for children crossing streets, walking on sidewalks, and riding bicycles.

Stop for school buses: When a school bus stops to pick up or drop off children, drivers are required to stop as well. Passing a stopped school bus with its red lights flashing is illegal and endangers the lives of young pedestrians.

Plan for extra travel time: With more school-related traffic and potential delays, give yourself extra time to reach your destination. As a reminder, Range Road is closed north of University Drive, so Takhini Elementary access will be from the south.

Teach kids about traffic safety: Educate children about safely crossing the street and the importance of paying attention to traffic.

Use crosswalks: Encourage children to use designated crosswalks when crossing the street. Be vigilant and stop for pedestrians at crosswalks, ensuring they have safely crossed.

Students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the new transit schedules, so they can successfully get to and from school. Get transit updates at: whitehorse.ca/transit

By following these simple guidelines, we can create a safer environment for everyone during the back-to-school season. Let’s work together to make our streets safe for our youth.