Stay safe when heading back to school

Calgary students are headed back to school next week, and we want to remind parents, students and all Calgarians how to stay safe.

“We want everyone to have a safe and exciting start to the school year,” says Const. Leah Berti, School Resource Officer with the Calgary Police Service. “With so much happening, it’s important to stay mindful of safety while having fun and making new friends.”

General safety

Parents and guardians should make sure children know:

Their full name, age, address and contact numbers (home, work and cell).
To call 911 in emergencies and 403-266-1234 for non-emergency police help.
To follow the same route to and from school. Take main routes and avoid taking shortcuts through less visible areas.
Safe play areas (e.g. yards, playgrounds) and places to avoid (e.g. vacant lots, bushy areas, roads).
Key traffic signs and signals.
To ensure any valuables are secured in their pockets or bags and are not visible.
Not to talk to, accept items from, or go anywhere with strangers.
Never to reveal they’re alone or that parents/guardians aren’t home.
That uniformed police officers are safe and trustworthy.
To seek help from a trusted adult or police officer if they feel unsafe.
If they have a cellphone, important numbers should be saved in it.

Online safety

New school years can often mean new friends. Social networking sites can be beneficial but can also come with risks.

Keep your children safe online:

Limit the sharing of personal information: avoid sharing addresses, school names or other identifiers.
Check privacy settings: ensure only trusted people can view content.
Communication is key: talk to your children about online experiences.
Stay informed: ask your child to show you the apps, platforms, games and sites they are using.
Upsetting content: ensure your children know to report upsetting content to trusted adults.
Place devices in common areas to monitor usage.
Use parental controls: restrict unsupervised internet access.
Protective software: install antivirus protection.
Teach respectful online behaviour: remind your children that posts and comments can have a lasting impact.
Strong passwords: create strong, unique passwords for different sites and never share them.

Traffic and pedestrian safety

Increased activity on streets, roadways and sidewalks, especially near schools, can pose risks for both drivers and pedestrians.

All Calgarians are reminded to:

Slow down in playground zones: these zones have a maximum speed of 30 km/h from 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day.
Avoid distractions: While driving, do not: use electronic devices, read printed material, or engage in activities that will take your eyes off the road.
Stop and park only in designated zones: do not stop or park: within five metres of a crosswalk, in “No Stopping” zones, or in designated bus zones. Do not double park.
Never leave your car running and unattended.
Avoid jaywalking: Use marked crosswalks and activate pedestrian crossing signals wherever possible.
Be aware of surroundings: as a pedestrian, even if you have the right of way, look and listen before crossing the road. Avoid walking with headphones or earbuds.
Watch for buses: Always be alert for children around a stopped school bus.

Calgarians can expect to see an increased presence from The City of Calgary’s Traffic Safety Team around schools.

New driver information

August is New Driver Education Month in Alberta. With the sense of freedom a new driver’s licence can bring, the first few years of driving can be an exciting time. However, it takes time for new drivers to gain experience behind the wheel.

In addition to the driving safety tips for all motorists above, the following rules apply to new drivers:

Class 7 learner's licence

You must be accompanied by a driver who has a full Class 5 licence
You cannot drive between midnight and 5 a.m.
You must have zero per cent alcohol levels when driving at all times
A Class 7 licence will be suspended at eight demerit points

Class 5 Graduate Driver's Licence (GDL)

You cannot be the accompanying driver to a learner
A GDL licence will be suspended at eight demerit points
You must have a Class 5 GDL for at least two years with no suspensions in the last year before you are eligible for a full Class 5 licence

For more back-to-school safety information, visit the Calgary Police Service website.