Safety tips for back to school

With many schools starting this week, the Calgary Police Service and The City of Calgary are reminding parents, students and motorists how to stay safe both on and off school property.

“The start of the school year is often a very hectic and exciting time,” says Const. Martin Courte, School Resource Officer with the Calgary Police Service. “But with all the excitement can also come some safety risks, with increased traffic in areas around schools, and students making new friends and becoming more independent. We want everyone to keep these tips in mind to ensure all Calgary students have a safe and educational start to the school year.”

General safety tips

We are reminding parents and guardians to make sure their children know:

Their full name, age, address, area code, home phone number and parents’ or guardians’ work and cellphone numbers. If children have their own cellphones, program important numbers into the phone.
How to contact police, fire and EMS in an emergency (911) and police in a non-emergency (403-266-1234).
To use the same route to and from school.
Where the safe places are to play (front and backyards, playgrounds).
What places to avoid (vacant lots, dark, wooded, bushy areas).
Never to talk to, take anything from, or go anywhere with a stranger.
Never tell strangers that they are by themselves or that their parents or guardians are not home.
Uniformed police officers are friends who can be trusted.
If they are in a situation where they don’t feel safe, look for a trusted adult or police officer to help.

Traffic and pedestrian safety

With school back in, children will be navigating the streets, roadways, pathways and sidewalks. Increased activity in these areas poses potential risks for drivers and pedestrians.

Over the last five years, an average of 6,931 tickets have been issued in the month of September for speeding in a playground zone (officer and photo radar combined). This compares to a monthly average of 6,039 throughout the rest of the year (October to August).

“We can see a lot of dangerous driving and parking choices near schools and it’s putting kids at risk,” says Jacquelyn Oriold, mobility education specialist at The City of Calgary. “While safety is a shared responsibility, kids are counting on us as drivers to make safe choices. We want everyone to get to and from school safely. We are asking everyone to prioritize safety over convenience, stay alert, obey the laws and watch out for one another, especially near schools and during pick-up and drop-off times.”

Calgarians are reminded to:

Slow down in playground zones: The maximum permitted speed in playground zones is 30 km/h during zone hours, which are in effect from 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., every day of the year. Passing another vehicle or person cycling within the playground zone during these hours is not permitted.
Avoid distractions: Don’t text, email, use electronic devices or read printed materials while driving.
Keep crosswalks clear: Don’t stop or park within five metres of a crosswalk. It reduces visibility of people using them to cross.
Watch for restricted zones: Don’t park or stop in areas marked with “No Stopping” signs. Obey time-restricted zones.
Watch for bus zones: Do not stop or park in designated bus zones, even if it appears clear.
Avoid U-turns: Do not make U-turns in school intersections or crosswalks. Go around the block if necessary.
Don’t double park: Do not stop next to parked cars or leave your vehicle idling to run inside.
Avoid jaywalking: Never walk out from between parked vehicles. Always use marked crosswalks.
Watch for school buses: Always be alert for children around a stopped school bus. Slow down, be prepared to stop, and don’t follow too closely behind. Pass with caution if the bus’s amber lights are flashing, as it is likely slowing down and preparing to load or unload children.

"Children's safety should always come first for parents and guardians. We're asking parents to leave a few minutes early to avoid having to park dangerously," says Todd Sullivan, leader of patrol and investigations with Calgary Parking. "When possible, park a short distance away and walk the remaining distance to help alleviate congestion. While education remains a priority for our officers, photo enforcement vehicles regularly patrol parking areas around elementary schools to ensure compliance. With over 150 elementary schools across the city, we can't attend every school every day, so we hope you can help spread the word. Your actions when parking around schools can make a big difference in making this happen."

Social media and online safety

New school years can often mean new friends. Social networking sites can be beneficial but can also come with risks. Parents are encouraged to follow these tips to help keep their children safe online:

When capturing milestone moments, avoid posting personal identifying information online.
Always check your social media privacy settings and make sure only trusted people can see your content.
Maintain open lines of communication between you and your children.
Have your child teach you about apps, games or internet sites they are using.
Remind your children to never reveal personal information over the internet, whether it’s through social media, in online surveys or on websites.
Children should never agree to meet people they have met on the internet.
If children see, or read, content online that upsets them, ensure they know to report it to an adult.
Keep computers in high-traffic areas of the home.
Learn how to restrict access to the internet when there is no supervision available.
Learn about family or parental controls through your internet service provider.
Use protective software, including anti-virus and firewall protection.
Teach your child about the importance of respectful and responsible online behaviour. Remind them what they post online can have long-term consequences.
Help your child create strong, unique passwords for their accounts and remind them not to share these passwords with anyone.
Keep yourself updated on the latest social media platforms and trends to better understand the online environment your child is navigating.

For more back-to-school safety information, visit the Calgary Police Service and City of Calgary websites.