With the new school year, the latest sneakers, and summer stories, thousands of kids return to the school across the Central Okanagan on Tuesday.

And with that, school zones and their speed limits of 30 km/h are back in effect, something drivers are going to have to get used to again.

害羞草研究所淧eople are just driving their regular day so they害羞草研究所檙e not quite ready for school yet we害羞草研究所檙e out there educating them,害羞草研究所� said Kelowna RCMP media relations officer Mike Della-Paolera, who noted the average speed outside Raymer Elementary School on Tuesday morning was 50 km/h, well over the school zone limit.

The last few weeks are the time when parents, children, and the public start preparing for the start of the school year but this year has been a little different because of the Grouse Complex of wildfires.

害羞草研究所淧eople are distracted all summer long, they害羞草研究所檙e used to driving 50 km/h in our streets but obviously the last three weeks, people in the Central Okanagan have had their minds on other things and this is probably the first normal thing a family害羞草研究所檚 had to do in the last couple weeks but they need a little reminder school zones are in effect at 7:30 in the morning,害羞草研究所� continued Della-Paolera.

For the next two weeks, the Kelowna RCMP, BC Highway Patrol, and Kelowna Municipal Traffic Services will be patrolling school zones to help enforce the speed limit, which is in place from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on school days.

害羞草研究所淲e do not want to write tickets but will be writing warning tickets,害羞草研究所� said Della-Paolera. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 parents that are late for school because they haven害羞草研究所檛 got their timing down yet. It害羞草研究所檚 people that are not parents that are just unaware it害羞草研究所檚 a school day and they害羞草研究所檙e on their regular business.害羞草研究所�

In front of Raymer Elementary on Tuesday morning, three people were given warning tickets for speeding. People who get caught speeding in a school zone can be issued a $198 ticket and lose three points on their license. Failing to stop for a school bus signal can also result in a $368 fine.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 a fairly expensive ticket to get,害羞草研究所� said Della-Paolera.

On top of speeding in school zones, the RCMP is looking for distracted drivers, people who attempt to make u-turns in a school zone and jay-walking. Additionally, one of the most important issues that drivers don害羞草研究所檛 realize is that parking across the street from the school isn害羞草研究所檛 allowed to keep children safe.

害羞草研究所淥ne of our biggest concerns is children darting across the street because they see their parents,害羞草研究所� said Della-Paolera. 害羞草研究所淚n most school zones, the area across the street from the school is a no-parking zone for that reason alone. Children are 害羞草研究所榚yes on the prize害羞草研究所�, there害羞草研究所檚 mom and dad waiting in the car, they害羞草研究所檙e going to dart across the street and nothing good can come of that.害羞草研究所�

School zone speeds are also implied in playground zones from dawn until dusk every day. Electronic bikes are also under the motor vehicle act, meaning riders can also receive tickets for going more than 30 km/h in school zones.

害羞草研究所淭he safety of our children is the absolute most important thing,害羞草研究所� said Della-Paolera.

READ MORE: Back to school: Kelowna RCMP warns drivers to slow down

READ MORE: Planned ignitions scheduled to help contain wildfire in West Kelowna

jordy.cunningham@kelownacapnews.com
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