Children stopped traffic outside a school yesterday to bring attention to safe driving in school zones.
Working with the Fort St. John RCMP, Grade 1 and 2 children at Christian Life School approached motorists to talk about safe driving in school zones as part of the RCMP’s Think of Me campaign.
The kids got dressed up in bright orange and yellow RCMP emergency smocks and took turns approaching motorists with Cpl. Jodi Shelkie, the Fort St. John RCMP’s spokesperson.
Hand-in-hand, the child and Shelkie would approach drivers and give them a picture to remember them.
The students handed out their ‘Think of Me’ cards, which the children drew themselves, attached to a personal message to the driver asking that they please consider the effects their driving has on them personally.
“We had had reports that people weren’t stopping at this three-way intersection,” said Shelkie.
Some of the drivers who are now using 112 Avenue a new stretch of the avenue east of 86 Street to get to the new hospital are the culprits.
“The three-way sign is also brand-new,” Shelkie said, adding, “It’s the Christmas season, we’re telling drivers to be safe around the neighbourhood, especially in school zones.”
Also new is a stretch of 90 Street that connects to 112 Street on the western side of the school’s property.
There is concern that the increase in traffic around the school is posing a threat to the school’s children.
“One lady burst into tears another guy said that he wanted to donate $20 to the cause. We had to tell him ‘Sorry, we’re the RCMP we can’t accept donations,’ ” Shelkie said, describing some of the more interesting reactions to the program by some of the motorists that were stopped.
In January, the RCMP’s Think of Me campaign will go to Duncan Cran Elementary and Alwin Holland Elementary.
