Traffic Safety Awareness Week from March 5 – 9, 2007
28 February 2007
This is the tenth year of a Richmond District Parents Association initiative to create greater community awareness about establishing safer traffic environments at our schools and in our neighbourhoods. This week recognizes a city-wide partnership that aims to “Keep Our Future Safe” by:
- Educating drivers to recognize and respect school zone speed limits and stopping regulations
- Promoting safe driving and pedestrian practices at schools
- Encouraging the use of safe alternative transportation choices to reduce vehicle congestion at school sites
The highlight of the week is the Way to Go! “Walking Yellow Wednesday” inter-school challenge on Wednesday, March 7, where the school with the highest student participation will receive the Mayor’s Golden Shoe trophy. Join the special activities being held at these two schools:
- Kick-off event at Mitchell Elementary School (12091 Cambie Road) where Mayor Malcolm Brodie will participate in a walk with elementary school children starting at 8:15 a.m. at the intersection of Cambie Road and No. 5 Road
- Tait Elementary School (10071 Finlayson Drive) will host Charlotte Diamond performing the “Walking School Bus” song with students and have walks to the school
Other activities during Traffic Safety Awareness Week include:
- Placement of yellow tape and bright yellow lawn signs featuring the message “Please Slow Down - School Zone” in neighbourhoods surrounding participating schools to serve as visual reminders and warnings to drivers of the presence of schoolchildren and pedestrians
- Distribution of educational materials about traffic and pedestrian safety and vehicle-trip reduction programs to every elementary and secondary school in Richmond, as well as libraries and community centres
- Increased traffic enforcement and speed monitoring around school zones and crosswalks
You can help keep our community “road safe” by reviewing skills for pedestrians and the best walking routes to school with your children, encouraging your children to participate in the “Walking Yellow Wednesday” challenge, and obeying traffic safety regulations around schools.
Traffic Safety Awareness Week is presented by the Richmond District Parents Association and sponsored by ICBC Loss Prevention, the Autoplan Broker Road Safety Program, Richmond School Board and the City of Richmond, with the participation of Richmond RCMP, CARS BC, the Way to Go! School Program, BEST and Richmond Health Services.
