Safety Tips For Back To School

Students in New Brunswick will start heading back to class on Tuesday for another school year.

That means police forces across the province will be stepping up patrols to ensure everyone stays safe.

Sgt. Mario Maillet, who is part of the RCMP’s Tactical Traffic Enforcement Unit, said drivers need to be more vigilant than usual.

“Making sure not to pass the school bus when the red lights are flashing and slow down in neighbourhoods as a lot of children will be waiting for school buses,” Maillet said in an interview.

Drivers in New Brunswick can be fined at least $340 for speeding in a school zone and $480 for passing a stopped school bus with red lights flashing.

Maillet also has some safety tips for students, both for those returning for another year and for those heading to class for the first time.

“Make sure you’re walking on the sidewalks when possible,” he said. “It’s good to walk with somebody else if you can and be careful of vehicles.”

When waiting for a school bus, students should stand back from the road until the bus stops completely.

Maillet said it is important for everyone to do their part to help keep one another safe.