Drivers on the streets of Huntingdon are encouraged to be extra cautious in the areas around schools where signs specifically addressing safety for children have been installed .
These signs, located near Heritage School and École Notre-Dame, are the result of collaboration between the Commission scolaire de la Vallée-des-Tisserands, the company Autobus Roland Leduc and theTown of Huntingdon. « The idea is to make drivers aware of the many students who walk or ride bicycles to school, » explained Marie-Claudel Leduc, owner of Autobus Roland Leduc.
The town of Huntingdon saw to installing these signs and painting pedestrian crosswalks at certain intersections. There is also a school crossing guard employed near École Notre-Dame.
Delinquent drivers
The principals of both schools welcome these various measures. Anick Leclerc, Principal at Héritage School, confirmed that a number of drivers do not always respect the safety rules near the school at the corner of King and Dalhousie.
« Establishing a parking zone on Dalhousie last year has helped a lot. But in spite of the presence of three adults, there are still drivers who break the rules. »
Michel Girard, the Principal at École Notre-Dame on York St., mentioned that it is often the parents who ignore safety measures. « Last year, we saw a number of parents who didn’t stop for a bus with red lights flashing, » he remarked. Passing a school bus when the red lights are flashing will result in 9 demerit points and a fine between $274 and $438.
Both schools have observed that a greater number of students walk to school or are driven by parents; amounting to 25% of the school population. This increase has resulted in the CSVT implementing new measures to its transportation policy.
Translated by Cathleen Johnston
