SEATS committee aims to improve school zone safety

When they spotted a motorist, parent or student doing something unsafe they would a have a quick conversation to educate them for the future.

Holeha estimates he and other officers saw about 20 infractions in the 45 minutes before the bell rang today,

Many of the infractions had to do motorists stopping where they shouldn’t. Holeha says those infractions are minor in nature but it’s easy to see how that could turn into something major if somebody’s not able to see crossing the street.

“Double parking on the road just letting kids out quick which is not safe because other motorists can’t see people crossing the street. Parking in bus zones. So if you park behind a bus or in front of a bus really tight where they can’t get out, the bus can’t back up so we don’t want to see anybody parking in bus zones, that sort of thing,” he says.

“We just want to remind parents that take that extra time if you have to park a little ways way to park safely then you can walk to school with your kid you can share a couple extra moments with them.”

Staying focused, not idling vehicles, and pedestrians and motorists making eye contact near crosswalks are some of the other tips committee members were giving out today.

These safety blitzes will happen at a different school each month until the end of June and Holeha hopes to pick the program up again in September.

The Southeastern Alberta Traffic Safety committee include Brain Injury Relearning Services, City of Medicine Hat, Alberta Health Services and Medicine Hat Police Service.

Traffic and Parking Infractions:

Fail to yield to pedestrian in crosswalk $810
Stop/park on crosswalk or part of crosswalk $81
Stop/park within 5m of stop/yield sign $81
Stop/park within 1.5m of access to a garage, private driveway or roadway $81
Stop/park within 5m of marked crosswalk $81
Failing to stop/allow pedestrian to use crosswalk $162

by Chris Brown

SEATS committee aims to improve school zone safety

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