Joint news release with the City of Whitehorse
The Government of Yukon, City of Whitehorse and RCMP are working together to highlight safety around school crosswalks by painting blue no-parking zones at École-Émilie-Tremblay, Jack Hulland Elementary, Takhini Elementary, Porter Creek Secondary and Holy Family Elementary.
As part of this year’s Back to School Safety campaign, the Government of Yukon applied highly visible paint 15 metres before crosswalks and 10 metres after.
The blue paint is a visual reminder not to park too close to a crosswalk, even for a minute. This puts students and pedestrians at risk because they are less visible to oncoming motorists.
We all have a role to play in making sure students, staff and their families can safely travel to and from school. It is great to see community partners coming together to raise awareness of how to drive and park safely near crosswalks.
Minister of Education Tracy-Anne McPhee
Keeping our children and pedestrians safe is paramount, but in the end a lot of the responsibility lies with drivers, so please reduce your speed in school zones and drive carefully. Let’s improve our driving behaviours and make sure our children arrive and leave school safely.
Mayor of Whitehorse Dan Curtis
The temporary blue paint was chosen because it is highly visible and stands out in contrast to other road colours.
The painted areas follow the national safety standard for recommended distance by the Transportation Association of Canada.
Janine Workman
Cabinet Communications
867-393-7449
janine.workman@gov.yk.ca
Oshea Jephson
Communications, Highways and Public Works
867-332-3568
oshea.jephson@gov.yk.ca