Back-to-school means back to safety: RCMP will be out in full force

August 28, 2025 - Kelowna, British Columbia
From: Kelowna RCMP

Content

August 28, 2025

As students across Kelowna prepare to return to school, the Kelowna RCMP is reminding drivers to slow down, stay alert, and prioritize safety in school zones and adjacent playground areas. 

Beginning the week of September 2, the Kelowna RCMP Municipal Traffic Unit will be increasing enforcement around schools to ensure a safe start to the school year.

“The back-to-school season is an exciting time for families, but it also means more children are walking, biking, and crossing the street,” said Cpl. Allison Konsmo, Media Relations Officer with the Kelowna RCMP. “We are encouraging everyone to slow down, stay alert and keep their eyes on the road, especially near schools.”

Back-to-school safety tips:

• School zones are in effect in Kelowna from 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on school days, with a maximum speed limit of 30 km/h, unless otherwise posted. When connected to a playground zone, speed limits are in effect from dawn to dusk daily,
• Slow down in school zones, fines for speeding in a school zone start at $196 and increase the higher you exceed over the posted speed limit,
• Always yield to pedestrians, obey the crossing guards and never block crosswalks,
• Stay alert and avoid any distractions, children are unpredictable and can easily dart out in between cars and cross mid-block without any warning,
• Watch for school buses, stop in both directions when the red lights are flashing and watch for children boarding, exiting and crossing the street,
• Encourage your child to stay on the sidewalk, look both ways before crossing the street and be aware of their surroundings.

“Everyone has a role to play in keeping our kids safe,” added Cpl. Konsmo. “Give yourself extra time for drop-off and pick-up and let’s work together to keep our kids safe this school year.”

For more information about road safety visit Road safety | Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

Released by:

Cpl. Allison Konsmo – Media Relations Officer

Kelowna RCMP

1190 Richter St

Kelowna, BC V1Y 2K7

Office: 250-762-3300

Proxy e-mail: E_kelowna_media@rcmp-grc.gc.ca

Contacts