Drivers and pedestrians are reminded to stay safe on the roads and be mindful of school zones as students of all ages head back to school next week.
COQUITLAM, B.C., August 29, 2024 – Drivers and pedestrians are reminded to stay safe on the roads and be mindful of school zones as students of all ages head back to class next week.
An increase in vehicle traffic is also expected as people return to work after summer vacations. Community safety is a shared responsibility, and Coquitlam’s streets, sidewalks and school zones will be busy with back-to-school excitement.
Back-to-School Safety Reminders
For the safety of school children, please follow City of Coquitlam bylaws and BC Motor Vehicle Act laws:
- Obey the reduced 30 km/h speed zones around schools that are in effect from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on school days (Monday to Friday). In playground zones, a 30 km/h speed limit is in effect every day from dawn to dusk.
- Drivers, cyclists and other micromobility users must yield to pedestrians at all intersections, regardless of whether they have pavement markings, signs or traffic signals.
- Obey all traffic signs.
- Walk young children between home and school if possible.
- Consider carpooling with other parents.
- If you must drive, stop in areas where you can legally park.
- Drivers are allowed to stop their vehicle in the pick-up/drop-off parking zones for up to three minutes while actively loading or unloading passengers, provided it is safe to do so.
- Stopping in a pick-up/drop-off zone for other reasons is illegal.
- Do not drop off or pickup students in no-stopping zones.
- These zones are located where the stopping of a vehicle will create a hazard. The no stopping restriction helps keep travel lanes clear and maintain visibility.
- Do not stop or park across a crosswalk or within six metres as crosswalk - sightlines must be maintained.
- Do not pull over in front of a fire hydrant, or block a driveway to drop off or pick up passengers.
- Do not participate in distracted driving – leave your phone alone while driving, and watch for children walking, cycling or riding a scooter.
- Check around your vehicle before driving to make sure there are no small children hidden from view, and look for pedestrians when backing up.
Back-to-School Education and Enforcement Visits
Coquitlam Bylaw Enforcement Officers will be stepping up enforcement around school zones, and warning and ticketing drivers throughout the month of September. Coquitlam RCMP will also be at schools ramping up education in collaboration with Bylaw Enforcement.
Media contact
Aaron Hilgerdenaar
Manager, Bylaw Enforcement and Animal Services
bylawenforcement@coquitlam.ca
604-927-3580
We acknowledge with gratitude and respect that the name Coquitlam was derived from the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ (HUN-kuh-MEE-num) word kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (kwee-KWET-lum) meaning “Red Fish Up the River”. The City is honoured to be located on the kʷikʷəƛ̓əm traditional and ancestral lands, including those parts that were historically shared with the q̓ic̓əy̓ (kat-zee), and other Coast Salish Peoples.