Students taught the ABCs and 123s of traffic safety

Students from Edmonton’s Westbrook Elementary School learned the importance of following some vital traffic safety rules during Traffic Safety Day, an annual event held to increase awareness about the need to stay safe on the road.

“Traffic safety is important with children back in class and buses back on the road. We all need to ensure our children stay safe when travelling to and from school and drivers need to be especially cautious during this time.”

Law enforcement officers led students through a series of interactive stations, showing them how to safely cross a street, how to get on and off a school bus safely and how to cross the street with a school patrol.

The students also received activity books from the Street Safe program, which teaches children in Kindergarten to Grade 3 about traffic safety. Activity books, a game and teacher resource guides for Kindergarten to Grade 6 are available free-of-charge, from Alberta Transportation, to schools across Alberta.

Traffic Safety Day is also a time to remind drivers they must stop when approaching a school bus with red lights flashing. The penalty for passing a school bus with its red lights flashing is a $402 fine and six demerit points. Alternating flashing amber lights mean a school bus is slowing down to stop and drivers should do the same. 

Traffic Safety Tips

Tips for crossing a street safely

• Remember to:
  • POINT across the road with your arm to show drivers you want to cross.
  • PAUSE and wait until all cars are stopped. Make eye contact with the drivers.
  • PROCEED with your arm extended when all cars have stopped. Keep scanning both sides of the road. Drivers can’t always see you.
• Cross the road at the corner of the street or at a marked crosswalk — never in the middle of the road.
• Obey pedestrian lights. Cross the street only when you see the walk sign and only when all cars have come to a complete stop.
• Never run out from between parked cars or buses.

Tips for getting on and off a school bus safely

• Arrive at the bus stop at least five minutes before the school bus arrives.
• Wait for the bus at a safe place at least 10 giant steps away from the road.
• Wait for the bus to stop and the doors to open before walking toward the bus.
• Remember — if you can’t see the driver, the driver can’t see you either.
• Take your seat and stay seated until you leave the bus.
• Wait until the bus stops before standing.
• Walk 10 giant steps away from the bus when getting off the bus.

Tips for riding a bike safely

• Always wear an approved, properly fitting bicycle helmet.
• Wear brightly coloured clothing.
• Be seen and heard:
  • A bell or horn lets people hear you.
  • Front, rear and pedal reflectors help you to be seen.
  • A flag helps cars see your bike.
• Use hand signals to show where you’re going.
• Ride your bike on the right side of the road and in the same direction as traffic.
• When riding with others, always ride in single file.
• Walk your bike across the road when crossing the street.