Our proposed project focuses on enhancing road safety for students at Craigflower Elementary School, located at the busy intersection of Admirals and Gorge Road in Victoria, BC. Serving kindergarten to grade 5 students, the school is situated in a designated 30km/h playground zone that experiences frequent speeding and high traffic volumes, creating unsafe conditions for young pedestrians.
Project Goals:
- Increase driver awareness of the 30km/h speed limit in the playground zone.
- Improve pedestrian safety for students and families navigating the area.
- Foster a stronger culture of road safety among the community.
The specific activities include:
- Install highly visible signages: We will place brightly colored, reflective signs and speed awareness indicators at strategic points near the school to reinforce the speed limit for drivers.
- Community education campaign: Collaborate with local authorities and parent volunteers to distribute informational materials and hold road safety awareness events for students and families.
- Creative student-led initiatives: Engage students in designing banners or artwork promoting road safety, to be displayed on the schools exterior fence, fostering pride and raising awareness.
The community urgently needs this project because:
- Unsafe Driving Behavior: Speeding and inattentive driving are common in the area, particularly before and after school hours, increasing the likelihood of accidents involving young pedestrians.
- High Traffic Volume: Admirals and Gorge are major commuter routes, with heavy vehicle traffic that does not adequately account for the presence of a school/ playground zone.
- Low Driver Awareness: Current signage and road markings do not sufficiently alert drivers to reduce speed or pay attention to the playground zone, especially during peak traffic times.
This project will address these issues by:
- Increasing driver awareness of the 30km/h speed limit through enhanced signage and visual cues.
- Encouraging compliance with speed limits using temporary traffic calming measures and increased visibility of school zone boundaries.
- Empowering the community with educational initiatives to prioritize road safety for children.
By addressing these challenges, the project aims to reduce speeding, prevent accidents, and create a safer environment for Craigflower Elementary students, ensuring peace of mind for parents and the broader community.
Photo source: Unsplash. Photo is shown for illustration purposes only andmay not be an accurate representation of the project.
