05

Sep
2013

Slow Down, Pay Attention, Stay Safe

September 5th, 2013 | by admin admin | in Safety Advice |    0   

With the world shifting into back-to-school gear, Metro Vancouver police forces are warning drivers to slow down. The speed limit in school zones is 30 km/h from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. when classes are in session.

Did you know?

At 8:10 a.m. on the first day of school, Vancouver police officers were already dealing with an impaired driver a few blocks from an elementary school.

If you go over 70 km/h in a school zone, your car will be automatically impounded, you will be fined $368 and you will receive three penalty points on your record (see our excessive speeding blog).

It takes a vehicle 13 m to come to a complete stop when driving 30 km/h, but 27 m, more than double that distance, when driving 50km/h.

A pedestrian hit at 30 km/h has a 90 per cent chance of surviving. A pedestrian hit at 50 km/h has an 80 per cent chance of being killed.

In the Lower Mainland, on average, 10 children aged five to 18 are killed and 3,250 injured in 9,060 crashes every year.

If the message for drivers is “Slow down,” the one for parents and students is “Pay attention!” Put away headphones, cell phones, iPods, DSs and other gadgets while walking to school. Teach young children to look both ways and make eye contact with drivers before crossing the street. Don’t cross from mid-block, or cut through a parking lot.

For more safety tips, check out the VPD’s Back to School Safety

Finally, remind your children to be street smart en route to school. The Vancouver Police have issued a public warning about a possible attempted abduction over the weekend.

Around 5 p.m. on Saturday, August 31, the driver of a bright-blue, 4-door hatchback repeatedly tried to entice a 16-year-old girl into his car. He followed her from Cambie and 14^th to Quebec and 13^th. When he grabbed her wrist, the girl broke away and ran to a nearby business to call for help.

The suspect is described as white with a pale complexion, 25 to 35 years old, 5’7″ to 5’8″ tall, 160 to 170 lbs., and unshaven with short light brown hair. He was wearing a black button-up short-sleeved shirt and dark jeans.

If you saw anything suspicious in the area or have information about the suspect, please contact the VPD Sex Crimes Unit at (604) 717-0600 or Crime Stoppers at 1 (800) 222-8477.

Note: This blog discusses general safety and security topics. It is not intended to provide comprehensive advice or guidance. In all matters of personal safety and security, we encourage readers to research topics in depth and consult a security professional about specific concerns.

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