Motorists in North Bay could face a fine and gain demerit points if they are impatient at school crosswalks managed by crossing guards.
As of January 1st, motorists in Ontario need to stop and yield the entire roadway at pedestrian crossovers and at schools where crossing guards are present.
The city of North Bay and Callander do not have any pedestrian crossovers so the North Bay Police will be paying close attention to this new rule near area schools in the new year.
“Keep in mind the new rule applies to school crossing guards and I suspect most drivers who see a school crossing guard will wait anyway and are patient,” said Marie Lugli, North Bay Police Corporate Communications Coordinator.
“We want drivers to know now there’s a fine which will be doubled in community safety zone and that can also cost you 3 demerit points. However, it’s not about police giving out tickets, it’s about community safety and keeping people safe.”
With the snow now blanketing the city, and snow banks growing, Lugli reminds pedestrians to be cautious when and where they are crossing area streets.
“With the high snowbanks, pedestrians should not be crossing at places where there isn’t a proper cross walk because it’s difficult coming out from a behind a snowbank,” she said.
Pedestrian accidents were a concern in November and December, especially in North of the city on McKeown avenue. That was before the snow hit the ground.
Lugli hopes new rules like this which help protect the pedestrian in the city.
She also hopes it will resonate with North Bay motorists to pay more attention to the road and less attention to distractions like cell phones.
