What began as a story about awareness has generated strong response from concerned Cochrane parents, who carry a common message:
Drivers beware of children as they walk and cycle to school, get on and off the school bus and parents be sure to educate your children on the dos and don’ts to arrive at school and return home safely.
The most common concerns reflected by parents interviewed by the Eagle included drivers passing school buses with red lights flashing, the safety issues of children cycling to school and drivers failing to stop at crosswalks.
“I was so stressed out by the time we got to school,” said Cochrane mother of two, Delynne Lorentzen, who embarked on her first morning cycle journey with her two sons to Holy Spirit last week, experiencing hurried drivers failing to stop at crosswalks and a near-accident.
“I would hate it to be something tragic to get somebody’s attention.”
Lorentzen said upon her arrival at school, she was surprised at how many other parents shared her concerns over cycling with their kids to school.
Donna Ruparell, a mother of three, bikes with her ten-year-old daughter, Anya, to school whenever the weather permits.
“Educate your children to be vigilante — especially at busy crosswalks, to make sure drivers have fully stopped”.
Ruparell said areas of specific concern include the busy Highway 22 and Quigley Drive intersection, as well as the new intersection at Railway Street and Centre Ave. — where the town still needs to install sidewalks, which are slated for construction later this year.
Kevin DeForge, principal of Holy Spirit Elementary, said that it’s also important for drivers to be watching for kids outside of school hours and in places they do not expect to see them.
“It’s about making sure drivers are mindful of kids during school hours, at school crosswalks — but kids also ride off the road and in back alleys.”
Concerns over school bus safety were also shared.
“I have four kids and to this day, they’re not allowed to wait at the end of the driveway for the bus,” said Stephanie Varey, whose rural property is located north of Cochrane, along the busy Highway 22.
Varey said she has seen a lack of consistency among the driving habits of Southland bus drivers — some who stay on the road, others who pull over on the paved shoulder and some who don’t activate the flashing red lights.
“I have spoken to Southland and they prefer their drivers don’t pull over to the paved shoulder and that they stay on the road.”
She also said that she sees inconsistent driving habits from motorists — where some will pass buses while their red lights are activated, while others seem confused over whether to pull over or not.
According to transportation.alberta.ca:
“Slow down and stop when the school bus activates its alternately flashing red lights. This means you must stop whether you are approaching an oncoming bus or following one. The only exception to this rule is when the bus is on the opposite side of a two-way highway that is physically divided by a median.”
Varey said the inconsistencies could be attributed to a lack of education and awareness all the way around — motorists and bus drivers alike.
“Southland Transportation has a nationally accredited training program and we take the transportation of children very seriously. We are committed to making sure everyone arrives safely home and we follow Alberta Transportation’s rules and regulations,” said Lauren Gilbart, communications specialist for Southland Transportation.
Corporal Mel Calahasen with the Cochrane RCMP said that the local detachment has been vigilante at going after distracted drivers, and that they continue to work with the schools and encourage parents to also educate kids at home.
“Teach kids to wait at crosswalks and to make eye contact with the driver — and also to wear colourful clothes when on the road,” he said, adding that it’s also vital for motorists to pay caution to kids moving behind parked cars — where visibility is often blocked.
From January-December 2013 (excluding July and August), 16 complaints were filed with the Cochrane RCMP reporting people for passing school buses with their red lights flashing.
No such incidents have been reported so far in 2014.
In 2013, 71 distracted driving charges were laid for using cell phones while driving.
So far this year, 109 charges for the same offence have been laid.
Three people were charged with speeding near or in a school zone in 2013.
So far this year, five have been charged with the same offence.
In 2013, 91 charges were laid for intersection infractions (passing in an intersection); so far this year, 73 charges have been laid for the same offences.
People are encouraged to report driving infractions to 403-932-2211.
