Back to school: Local police say slow down for school zones or risk $483 fine

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WATCH: With kids heading back to class on Tuesday, local police are reminding drivers to slow down or face major fines. Ceilidh Millar reports. 

Local police are reminding drivers that the speed limit will be lower in school zones as kids get set to head back to class on Tuesday.

“We want to make sure drivers know the speed limits and know that there are expensive fines if they don’t follow the rules of the road,” said Cst. Matt Rutherford of the Victoria Police Department.

In B.C., fines range from $196 to $483 or higher if drivers are caught driving above 30 km/h in school or playground zones.

Despite the risks, Rutherford says September proves to be a slow adjustment for drivers every year.

“Even come May and June some drivers still don’t get the message,” Rutherford explained.

Each year across the province, 380 children are injured and six are killed while walking or cycling, according to recent numbers from ICBC.

Last year, 86 kids were injured in playground and school zones, despite the fact that 7,900 drivers were ticketed for speeding in those zones.

“We’re really asking drivers to help keep school zones safe,” said Joanna Linsangan of ICBC. “That means looking for those signs and slowing down.”

Local police say they’ll be out in full force on Tuesday to ensure drivers slow down.

Officers will be ticketing any drivers who surpass 30 km/h in school zones.

“They just have to make sure the kids are safe when they’re getting to school and going home,” Rutherford said.

Ceilidh MillarCeilidh Millar

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