THUNDER BAY - Thunder Bay police are reminding motorists to be extra vigilant and drive slowly in marked community safety zones throughout all hours of the day as the new school year begins this week.
“We are spending more time within these areas, particularly as we are getting used to differences in bus timing and student release times,” Sgt. Bill Pollock head of the Thunder Bay Police Service Traffic Unit said Wednesday, Sept. 9.
Police will be spending time providing enforcement and education in these areas as students in different grades begin returning to school on different days.
“With the staggered start times kids are being let out at noon rather than at the traditional end of the school day,” Pollock said. “They are not just letting the whole flow out so everything we are doing is non-traditional so we need to be more aware within these school community safety zones.”
Pollock explained it’s possible to see people all throughout the day in these zones as opposed to traditional school start and finish times.
“There are no traditional start and finish times anymore so children could be coming and going throughout the day at different times,” he said.
Police are reminding motorists to allow themselves enough time to get to their destination to avoid speeding and putting pedestrians and others at risk.
A fine for speeding in a community safety zone starts at $95 and a fine for failing to stop for a school bus is $490.
