As students head back-to-school, the Alberta Motor Association and Lethbridge Police Service urge drivers to take extra care around harmonized school and playground zones and to be mindful of the posted speed limit of 30 kilometres an hour.
AMA School Safety Patrol Coordinator Allison Purcell says safety patrollers are back on the crosswalk at St. Patrick Fine Arts Elementary.
“It’s great to have them out there. It helps to get pedestrians to and from school safely. School safety patrollers have been on the crosswalk for over 85 years.”
Purcell notes that there have been zero serious injuries or fatalities during that long history when a patroller has been on the crosswalk. There are 28 schools with safety patrollers across southern Alberta.
“Not every school crossing is a great location for patrollers. But we make sure when schools want to have patrols, we have them on the crosswalk,” she adds.
As for the number of student volunteers, Purcell says, every school is unique. “At St. Pat’s, I believe there’s about 35 students that are patrollers.”
Patrollers are also out on the crosswalk, no matter what the weather.
“Whether it’s snowing, raining or it’s a nice sunny day. It’s important they’re out there every single day,” says Purcell.
Safety is a shared responsibility, Purcell explains. “Just because there’s a patroller out there, doesn’t mean you don’t have a job to do as a driver. Plan ahead if you’re a parent driving your student to school. Think about where you can park further away from the school and walk your students to school and arrive early, rather than at the congestion just around bell time.”
“Let’s keep our students safe, as they’re coming to and from school every day,” adds Purcell.
Principal Kathy Jones-Husch says the school would like to highlight the importance of safety patrols. “Our school is one of the few that does have a safety patrol team. The kids like the leadership opportunity. It’s just this visible presence of safety.”
