Yes, school zones are back this September, reminding you to keep an eye out for children around schools and helping you do that by reminding you to slow down to 30 kilometres per hour on weekdays from 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. That means the first day that school zones will be enforced is Monday, September 2, despite it being a holiday.

Brian Smiley, spokesperson for Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) says that fortunately, there are not many vehicle collisions that involve students. This far from negates the necessity of school zones, however, he says.

"The odds of a pedestrian surviving a crash [are] much higher when the speed limits are lower," Smiley says.

He also offers some tips to keep in mind when driving in or through school zones.

"Certainly when you're travelling in a school zone, you want to look well ahead to make sure there is no pedestrian traffic," advised Smiley. "Children tend to get very excited when they're getting back to school, they're with their friends and oftentimes running across streets without looking."

As a motorist, he says, it's important to remember to drive defensively and be prepared to stop.

Smiley also reminds drivers to be on the lookout for school buses and not to pass a bus when its red lights are flashing. Smiley encourages drivers to be patient when encountering this during their daily commute.

"Observe the signage and proceed when you can."

For parents, keep in mind that it is always safest to drop your kids off away from traffic and using designated drop-off zones.