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Halifax, NS – The union representing more than 150 school crossing guards in HRM is issuing a cautionary message to motorists – slow down in school zones.

CUPE Local 4814 Spokesperson Glenna Casavechia said, “With the school year just about to wrap up, we are quite concerned about the excessive speed and the not stopping at crosswalks which we continue to witness on a daily basis.”

Other bad driving habits include inattentive drivers who are either talking on their cell phones or simply in a hurry to get to work or to get home and not adhering to ‘No Stopping’ and ‘No Parking’ zones which also poses a danger,” said Casavechia.

She cites high-speed areas such as Lacewood Drive, Caldwell Road and many others as being the worst school crossings for trying to get children across the street safely.

We need to have stiffer fines for these infractions. Something like a $1,000 fine for school zone speeders would certainly get drivers’ attention. We need to impose a zero tolerance approach,” said Casavechia.

Casavechia says her union has requested a meeting with Transportation Minister Bill Estabrooks to discuss its concerns and suggestions for solving the problem.

This is an issue which the minister has to take a much more critical look at and bring in whatever legislative changes he can to ensure children and parents walking to school aren’t seriously hurt or even killed.”

For information: 

Glenna Casavechia  
CUPE Local 4814   
Cell: (902) 229-4952 

Marianne Welsh
CUPE National Representative
Tel: (902) 455-4180

John McCracken
CUPE Communications
Tel: (902) 455-4180