Schools resume classes on Wednesday after summer vacation

The new school session will begin across the country on Wednesday after summer vacation.

Meanwhile, the police will monitor traffic more closely than usual near schools from August 10 to August 21 with the view to prevent accidents and ensure a safe trip to school for children, said police in a press release.

Police officers will also maintain a visible presence in school grounds.

“The visible presence of the police has been proven to calm traffic and improve the safety of schoolchildren on their journeys to and from school,” said Police Inspector of the National Police Board Heikki Kallio in the press release.

Over the coming weeks, police enforcement will focus primarily on speeding and compliance with pedestrian crossing rules near schools.

In addition, enforcement will target the traffic behaviour of cyclists and riders of light electric vehicles (persons under 15 years of age are not permitted to operate a light electric vehicle), compliance with traffic lights, the use of safety equipment and factors causing driver distraction in traffic.

With regard to cyclists and riders of light electric vehicles, the police will pay particular attention to whether more passengers are being carried than permitted, whether vehicles are being ridden on pavements, and whether right-of-way rules are being observed when crossing pedestrian crossings.

Attention will also be paid to the safe stopping and parking of vehicles in accordance with the Road Traffic Act near schools and when bringing children to school or picking them up.

Parking enforcement will be carried out in cooperation with municipal parking enforcement authorities.

Drivers should reduce their speed near schools, observe traffic more carefully than usual, and give children a safe opportunity to cross the road, said police.

“From the perspective of a small child, traffic can seem unpredictable. That is why adults must set an example. Calm driving, attentiveness and compliance with pedestrian crossing rules are keyways of preventing serious accidents,” Kallio added.