Traffic can be seen travelling near Crescent Heights High School on August 30, 2019 (photo by Colton Mckee)

By Charles Lefebvre

School zones

Police reminding drivers to be safe in school zones

Aug 30, 2019 | 2:38 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — You’re going to notice more police officers in school zones next week as children head back to school.

The Medicine Hat Police Service will be putting an increased emphasis on school zones beginning on the first day of school Tuesday and continuing through September.

“That first week back to school, we adjust all of our traffic members schedules so they’re working more of a day shift, to allow more of a presence in the first couple of weeks in school zones,” said Sgt. Clarke White with the Medicine Hat Police Service’s Traffic Unit. “Traditionally, we get a lot more complaints for parking or driving behaviours in the school zones for the first couple of weeks and the first month or so, tends to be a little busier.

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Speeding and parking issues make up the variety of the calls received, says White, noting illegal parking can occur during drop off and pick up.

“In my time in traffic, I’ve noticed we get a lot of parking complaints, and hazardous situations that are set up,” he said. “Parents stopping in a driving lane to drop off their kids, or double parking, parking in fire lanes, that sort of stuff. Parking too close to crosswalks is of course, a dangerous one we see commonly in playground zones.”

White says he wants motorists to be aware of the increased traffic around school zones and adjust their driving accordingly.

“It’s just going to be a busier week that we typically don’t see throughout the summer,” he said. “Maybe we get a little complacent in those school zones, so again, just watch for kids, watch for pedestrians, keep it to 30 (kilometres per hour), and we’ll make sure everyone stays safe.”