“This year, our message is simple: slow down for the kids.”
That is from Muhammad Qasim, traffic safety engineer for the City of Lethbridge.
He spoke about ‘Safe Kids Week’, an initiative focused on the safety of kids in the community, running from June 1 to 7 and led by the non-profit group Parachute Canada.
Locally, the City is teaming up with the Lethbridge Police Service and Alberta Motor Association to raise awareness about preventable injuries in children, with a focus on keeping streets safe by slowing down and always being alert behind the wheel.
“Every trip matters [and] the reaction of each adult is going to save lives,” Qasim said, adding children can be unpredictable when playing near local roadways.
“When you slow down, kids have more time [to watch and react to vehicles].”
He added that a 2025 transportation study in Lethbridge found that a total of 14 children, ages four to 17, were injured in reported pedestrian or cyclist collisions last year.
Additionally, 14,779 speeding offences were recorded in 30 km/h speed zones, and 2,400 offences involved drivers going 50 km/h or faster in 30 km/h zones. Qasim said 5,026 speeding offences happened between 3 and 6 p.m., known as ‘after school hours’.
“This is a serious concern, especially in places where children are walking, biking or scootering, crossing streets or traveling to schools or activities,” he remarked.
Qasim said the City will increase awareness through social media posts as well as by showcasing reminders for drivers to slow down and watch for children on electronic message boards around the community.
Sergeant Tony Ramotowski of the LPS Traffic Response Unit said motorists will continue to see officers out and about enforcing safety, especially in playground zones.
These zones were harmonized with school zones in September 2023, meaning the speed limit in these areas is 30 km/h from 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day.
“Kids are getting out of school [soon],” Ramotowski remarked.
“They’re excited to be out, so we’re going to make sure that the kids are safe and enforce [in] those areas that they frequent.”
Meanwhile, Carrie Herrick-Fitgerald, childhood safety program manager for the AMA, said children should be able to get to school or the park “safely and confidently”.
“Safe Kids Week is an important reminder [for] drivers to look out for our most vulnerable road users. Awareness, slower speeds and community support all help make neighbourhoods safer for children.”
The week-long initiative also builds continued work by the City to improve safety around schools. This year, the City completed School Transportation Plans for 21 elementary schools. The plans help identify any transportation concerns to offer the safest travel possible for kids walking, biking, scootering or taking the bus to school.
Residents looking to help as part of ‘Safe Kids Week’ can share locations where they have concerns about safety on the Parachute Canada website.
