Students are heading back to school Tuesday, and Barrie Police are stepping up traffic enforcement around school zones.
Officers will be watching for speeding, distracted driving and other risky behaviour.
Detective Constable Ron Hunt says that back to school is a good reminder that motorists need to reset their driving habits.
“Slow down in school zones and residential neighbourhoods, put your phone away, and pay attention to what’s happening around you. Children can be unpredictable, and something as simple as a child stepping out from between parked vehicles or running into the road after a ball can happen in seconds.”
Police will be using a variety of tools to monitor speeds, including LiDAR — Light Detection and Ranging — which uses light-based remote sensing technology to measure the speed of an individual vehicle.
Police vehicles are also equipped with stationary radar systems that can detect the speed of vehicles approaching from the front, and vehicles travelling behind the police vehicle.
Drivers are also reminded to watch for school buses, and when the red lights are flashing, motorists must stop and remain stopped until the lights stop flashing and it's safe to proceed.
Failure to do so, for a first offence, can mean a fine of between $400 and $2,000, and six demerit points.
For a second or subsequent offence within five years, the fine can range from $1,000 to $4,000, six demerit points, and possibly up to six months in jail.
Hunt says, “This isn’t about writing tickets; it’s about getting every child to school and back home safely every day. Slow down, put your phone away and watch for children.”
