City to invest in road safety around schools
The city’s going to dole out $25 million to schools to use as they see fit to improve road safety around their perimeters. It’s a little unsettling to read that 81 kids between 5 and 17 years of age were seriously injured in traffic incidents near schools in Montreal in 2017-2018.
Tim S. 07:51 on 2019-10-10 Permalink
Not a bad start. The part about police being “without mercy” in school zones is a bit of hot air, but improving street design can only help. There was an article the other day, I think on CBC, about crossing guards wearing body cams (in other parts of Quebec). It seems to be working, though a key part of the story is that the police actually followed up on infractions reported by the crossing guards.
Kevin 09:51 on 2019-10-10 Permalink
The most dangerous thing around my child’s school right now is construction to reinstall a traffic light.
Crews showed up earlier this year to install lights. That took a couple of weeks.
They showed up again Monday to fix the installation — so streets and sidewalks around the school have been dug up, intersections are closed, and there is no way for school buses to approach the school. This will last until Halloween.
The incompetence is mind-boggling.
Ephraim 13:50 on 2019-10-10 Permalink
What ever happened to the pilot project to put cameras on school buses to catch those who don’t stop when they are flashing lights? I once sat there waiting patiently at the flashing lights as cars and bicycles drove around me and honking me. I know school bus drivers, they say those that stop are really the minority and in the opposite direct, it’s almost a miracle to see people stop.
https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/quebec-drivers-pass-school-buses-illegally-30000-times-a-day-report-finds
Michael Black 13:59 on 2019-10-10 Permalink
When they clean streets in Westmount with the street cleaner, they send a Public Security guy along, who pops out to ticket any cars that missed the no-parking signs. Though, I don’t know if it reduces the bad parking the next time.
So maybe they should arm buses with cops to ticket drivers who don’t stop.
At one time, maybe still, parents at a nearby school woukd park on the sidewalk, even drive along the sidewalk, as if it was more imoortant to not block traffic than keep pedestrians safe.
Michael
Ephraim 19:48 on 2019-10-10 Permalink
The cameras on the buses are actually a Quebec invention, but not implemented here, as far as I know. Essentially when they catch someone, the video is set directly to a police officer and the officer writes the ticket. You don’t lose points, because you weren’t caught on the spot. But the ticket starts at $200. If a policeman was there… it’s 9 demerit points. The only exception is when there is a median, otherwise all directions have to stop and it legally includes all vehicles… so bicycles as well.