(Photo courtesy Lethbridge Police)

By Justin Goulet

Back to School

School zones back in effect Tuesday, August 31

Aug 30, 2021 | 7:10 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Lethbridge Police are advising residents that school zones are back in effect.

Effective Tuesday, August 31, officers will be conducting enforcement in the 30 km/h zones after a summer break. School zones are in effect in Lethbridge from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Playground zones are in effect daily from 8:30 a.m. until one hour after sunset.

With that, the Lethbridge Police Service has offered some tips to residents and notes it’s a good time for parents to speak with their children about streetwalking safety.

These include:

• Walk on the sidewalk if one is available and walk facing traffic if there is no sidewalk.
• Before crossing the street, stop and look left, right and left again to see if there is oncoming traffic.
• Make eye contact with drivers before crossing and always cross at crosswalks or intersections.
• Stay alert and avoid distracted walking/never walk while texting. Police say if you need to respond to a text, move out of the way of others and stop on the sidewalk. Never cross the street while using an electronic device and do not wear earbuds or headphones while walking across the street.

What's Happening in Lethbridge this week: January 20-26, 2025

Jan 20, 2025

What's Happening in Lethbridge this week: January 6-12, 2025

Jan 07, 2025

What's Happening in Lethbridge this week: December 30 - January 5, 2025

Dec 30, 2024

Tips for cyclists from the LPS include:

• Ride on the right side of the road, with traffic and in single file.
• Come to a complete stop before crossing the street.
• Walk bikes across the street, stay alert and avoid distracted riding.
• For children, parents should ensure they wear a properly fitted helmet and bright, visible clothing.

Police suggest parents bring their children to their bus stop to teach them how to properly get on and off the bus. The LPS said to, “teach them to stand six feet away from the curb.”

“If they must cross the street in front of the bus, teach them to wait until they’re 10 feet ahead of [the] bus before they cross.”

Additionally, when parents or guardians are driving children to school, they’re reminded to “stay alert and avoid distracted driving.”

“Obey school zone speed limits and follow your school’s drop-off procedure. Make eye contact with children who are crossing the street.”

In Lethbridge, August 31 marks the first day of school for those in the Lethbridge School Division, while students in Holy Spirit Catholic School Division start classes Wednesday, September 1.

In a tweet, the provincial government said, “not stopping puts kids at risk, and it can mean a $567 fine and [six] demerit points.”

More on school zones is available through the Government of Alberta’s website here.