It’s back to school for drivers, too

"It's a bit of a mess," said Station 12 Constable Alain Diallo. "We're noticing people simply aren't respecting traffic rules and drop-off points. People aren't focusing on the safety of their kids."

Until Sept. 18, police will increase their presence near schools and will be handing out tickets to speeders, illegal parkers, and drivers who don't respect pedestrian crosswalks.

They'll also be cracking down on students who are crossing the streets away from intersections, though Diallo says pedestrians have been setting the example so far; he gives them an 'A'.

Diallo has also noticed drivers scooting around stopped school buses — a major no-no and liable to net the driver a hefty fine and demerit points.

Police will also be doing their bit, ensuring that visibility is high around intersections and Westmount Public Security will also be overseeing parking and traffic flow around schools.

The gridlock around the many Westmount educational institutions has been a problem for years.

A tangle of traffic outsides schools each morning and afternoon is a common sight. In fact, in 2007, at the request of Station 12, city councillors expanded the school zone around The Study and parking is forbidden in the zone from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. and 2:45 to 3:45 p.m., Monday to Friday, during the school year.

In 2008, the number of school children who received minor injuries in traffic collisions in Montreal dropped over 11 per cent from the year before.

No children were killed, but one child was seriously injured, down from three in 2007.

Diallo also highlights the new section on the SPVM website aimed at youth, spvm.qc.ca/youth, where students, teachers and parents can find a wealth of road safety information.