By Dan Marshall

School zones back in effect today

Sep 6, 2016 | 10:00 AM

NANAIMO — It’s back to school for students in the central-island and local police are stressing safety.

School zones are back in effect and RCMP Constable Gary O’Brien says drivers need to aware, especially with excited kids who may not be paying attention.

“All motorists should know that school zones are enforced from 8am to 5pm when school is in effect. There’s a difference between school zones and playground zones. Playground zones are from dawn to dusk, and that’s seven days a week,” said O’Brien.

Familes should plan in advance for getting students home from school, and that includes who’s picking them up. 

“Parents need to take the time to talk to their kids about who can pick them up.  They should have a password set with their children that if somebody is offering them a drive, if they don’t know that password then they do not get in that car.  And never get within arm’s length of a car if they don’t know who that person is.”

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For students walking, O’Brien says they should use sidewalks whenever possible and always use marked crosswalks.

Children should also stop once they get to a crosswalk and attempt to make eye contact with drivers.

Police will be out enforcing the rules of the road this week in the hopes this will be a safe back to school week.