If you’re caught speeding in a school zone in Surrey, you may get something else with your ticket: a child’s drawing.
Worried that drivers were failing to get the message to slow down in school zones, Surrey RCMP recruited elementary school students to boost their cause.
“It’s an emotional reminder coming from a child that might be actually attending the school [zone] you are driving through every day,” said Cpl. Bert Paquet, a spokesman for Surrey RCMP.
The drawing is part of a campaign called “Think of Me,” [comma inside the quote] designed to encourage those who commute through school zones to lift their foot off the gas pedal.
More than 2,000 vehicles were checked before spring break, with RCMP handing out 194 drawings and 10 tickets.
According to Paquet, slowing from 50 kilometres an hour to 30 kilometres will only cost drivers 20 seconds out of their day.
With warm weather and kids returning to school after spring break, the Surrey school district is welcoming the initiative.
“We’re back in after spring break, and the weather is nice and there’s a little bit more tendency to be distracted,” said Doug Strachan, a spokesman for the school district. “More students and kids are out and about, it’s a good time of year to remind people to be careful.”
Pedestrian deaths account for 47 per cent of traffic deaths in Surrey, according to data collected by RCMP.
Five year-old Arshdeep Sidhu was injured after being hit by a car in a hit-and-run while walking home from his elementary school back in June. He was later airlifted to BC Children’s Hospital with life-threatening injuries. He is still recuperating after undergoing neck surgery in February.
The alleged driver in the hit-and-run turned herself in but no charges have been laid. Pacquet says the case is still open and police have interviewed more than 40 witnesses.
The “Think of Me” campaign will run throughout the rest of April and into May.
With a report from CTV Vancouver's Maria Weisgarber
