For children heading back to school, the most dangerous part of the day may happen before the first bell, or after the final one. New ICBC data shows minors are significantly more likely to be involved in a crash during the morning and afternoon school commute than at other times of day. And September stands out as a particularly risky month. Crashes involving minors are 37 per cent higher in September than the monthly average, according to ICBC data. On Vancouver Island, an average of 41 children are injured in crashes each year while walking or cycling. “We’re going from two months of relatively quiet time and that suddenly comes to a halt that first week of school,” said ICBC spokesperson Greg Harper. The data shows just how concentrated the risk can be. Between 2016 and 2025, there were 551 crashes involving minors between 8 and 9 a.m. during the school year, and another 603 between 3 and 4 p.m. Those were the two busiest hours for crashes involving minors. Harper says drivers need to expect more children on the road and recognize that some may be travelling through areas they are unfamiliar with, particularly at the beginning of a new school year. His advice is simple: slow down, eliminate distractions and leave extra time for the trip. School-zone speed limits are back in effect on school days. Unless otherwise posted, drivers must travel no faster than 30 km/h in school zones between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. In playground zones, the 30 km/h limit applies every day from dawn until dusk. Harper says drivers who dismiss a small amount of speeding as harmless should consider what that extra speed means when a child suddenly enters the roadway. “If you’re speeding in a school zone, you have less time to react,” he said. That warning is particularly relevant during the afternoon pickup period, when children can be moving between schools, sidewalks, parked cars and waiting vehicles. For parents and caregivers, ICBC recommends walking or cycling the route with children before the school year begins, particularly if the route is new. Harper says families should identify safe places to cross and reinforce the importance of staying alert near traffic. At a crosswalk, children should look both ways, make sure vehicles have stopped and, when possible, make eye contact with drivers before crossing. Even when a vehicle has stopped, children should continue looking for approaching traffic. For parents driving their children to school, the drop-off area can also present risks. Children should exit on the side of the vehicle closest to the sidewalk. Drivers should avoid stopping where they block crosswalks or create sightline problems for other motorists and pedestrians. Harper says rushing is one of the biggest issues around school drop-off and pickup. “I think it’s important to give yourself extra time to get to your destination,” he said. Drivers also need to be prepared for school buses. When a school bus is stopped with its lights flashing, approaching traffic in both directions must stop. ICBC says distracted driving is another major concern, urging motorists to keep their phones out of reach and remain focused on the road. That vigilance becomes even more important as the fall progresses, with shorter days and worsening weather potentially making children harder to see. ICBC and police will be working with Speed Watch volunteers at schools around B.C. in September to reinforce the message and monitor driver speeds. The organization is also continuing to support infrastructure improvements around schools. Since 2001, ICBC says it has contributed more than $1.5 million to 88 school safety projects across the province. Those projects have included pedestrian signals, flashing beacons, raised medians, refuge islands, speed reader boards and speed humps. But Harper says safer roads are not just about infrastructure or enforcement. “Safety is a shared responsibility among all road users,” he said. That means drivers slowing down and staying focused, while parents help children develop safe habits before they make the trip independently. On Vancouver Island, where dozens of children are injured in walking and cycling crashes each year, the message is especially timely as families settle back into the school routine. The first few weeks may bring crowded roads, unfamiliar routes and plenty of activity around schools. For drivers, ICBC’s advice is to expect it and slow down before a child gives them a reason to.
