Back-to-School: Parking Tips to Keep Kids Safe

It's 'back-to-school' season, and our kids are counting on us to keep them safe. School drop-off and pick-up times can be challenging, with people walking, wheeling, and driving to reach most elementary schools within a narrow time period. Our dedicated Parking Safety & Compliance Officers attend schools during these busy times to educate parents, caregivers and the school community on safe parking practices for the safety of all children. With over 150 elementary schools across the city, we can't attend every school every day, so we hope you can help spread the word.

With the safety of children being a shared responsibility, Calgary Parking is inviting all parents, caregivers and community members who drive to help create a safer environment around schools by parking safely, smartly and responsibly. Here are 10 safe parking practices that can help:

• Follow the signs: Pay attention to all parking signs around schools. They're there to guide you and keep everyone safe. Watch for and obey all signage in place, such as hug-and-go zones, no-parking zones and restricted drop-off areas at your children’s school.
• Keep crosswalks clear: Park a minimum of five metres away from a crosswalk to ensure children can see and be seen by traffic. Children need to see around our vehicles and they need to be seen by others.
• No double parking: Do not park beside another car that's already parked or stop in the middle of the road. It is illegal and dangerous as it blocks visibility and creates dangerous situations for kids.
• Don't block driveways: Be a good neighbour and respect the people who live near the school so they can easily get in and out. Do not park within 1.5 metres of a driveway, garage, or alley.
• Be an early bird and arrive early: School pick-up and drop-off times can be busy. Planning your time and arriving a few minutes early can help you find parking without rushing.
• Be patient: If you're running late, please stay calm, be patient and remain courteous. Remember that, like you, every other parent and caregiver also wants to get their kids to and from school safely.
• Keep your car in park (during pick-up): If you're waiting for your child, make sure your vehicle is in park. Accidental movement can be dangerous in busy school zones.
• Watch out for kids: Be extra careful when backing out of parking spots or driving near the school. Kids can be hard to see and might not always look before crossing the street.
• Be visible: If it's dark or the weather is bad, make sure your headlights are on and your vehicle is visible to other drivers and pedestrians.
• Avoid parking in bus zones: School buses need space to pick up and drop off students. Parking in their zones can cause delays and make it hard for buses to operate safely.

Your actions around schools can make a big difference in keeping everyone safe. They can help keep traffic flowing smoothly, prevent inconvenience to residents in the neighbourhood, and create a smoother, quicker drop-off and pick-up process. Let's work together to maintain safe parking around schools. Remember, our kids are counting on us to keep them safe! 

For more information, visit our school patrol page and follow us.