WELLINGTON CTY. – The OPP plans a safety campaign for the first week of students returning to school.
OPP Constable Mark Cloes said the beginning of the school year has traditionally meant an increase in traffic flow on local roadways near our schools.
He added that while serious incidents and complaints of poor driving behavior are infrequent, the county OPP wants to keep it that way and is working to ensure the safety of all users of the roadways.
Throughout Wellington, there are 32 schools including primary and secondary grade schools. Those schools educate more than 11, 000 students.
He said drivers should take into account that many of the returning children are excited about getting back into the classroom and may not be paying as much attention as normal. He said people should not park in No Parking areas or bus routes and lanes, and maintain a reduced speed, in and around our school zones. He added drivers should be courteous and yield to the pedestrians at the intersections.
Inspector Scott Smith of the County of Wellington OPP said of the police effort, “This 10-day traffic safety awareness campaign will focus OPP resources to area school zones, to remind drivers of the importance of strictly adhering to all traffic laws within the school zones. Our goal of this awareness initiative is the protection and safety of all children attending these schools.”
Cloes said people will notice a marked increase in officer presence within the school zones, for the first week of school. During that period officers will stress to motorists that safety of the children in and around schools is the County of Wellington OPP’s top priority. Traffic enforcement will focus on speeding, drinking and driving, and by-law compliance around the school zones.
