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Community Road Education Safety Team (C.R.E.S.T.)

The Community Road Education Safety Team 2010 has evolved from a program that began over 70 years ago. Back in its inception, the School Safety and Education Unit worked mainly with Vancouver Schools to promote the safety of those children attending school in the city.

C.R.E.S.T. officers still provide education on traffic safety and conduct enforcement in and around public schools and private schools. Traffic problem areas are monitored and upon request/complaint, C.R.E.S.T. members can liaise with parking enforcement and provide enforcement when required.

In 1994, a Parent Parking Patrol (PPP) program was started in Vancouver, modeled after the successful Edmonton PPP program. In this program, parents volunteer time to assist in monitoring the driving behaviour of drivers around schools.

The C.R.E.S.T. members provide a workshop for interested parents during which time they explain traffic laws and how to monitor driving habits of drivers who are "repeat offenders" around the schools, both in their parking and driving habits.

The C.R.E.S.T. members are in contact with these PPPs and then follow up with repeat offenders. As a rule of thumb, schools require at least six volunteer parents to start a PPP.

Over the past few years, C.R.E.S.T. has taken on the roll of educating the citizens of Vancouver in a number of different ways, including:

The Young Driver Graduated Licensing Program – Members attend Vancouver Secondary Schools and give presentations to students who have just started or are about to start the process of obtaining a driver's license. C.R.E.S.T. is hoping to expand these talks to all relevant community groups.

Pedestrian Safety – Presentations on how to keep children and seniors safe as pedestrians, as well as other members of the community, are given to schools, community and seniors' centres.

Bicycle Education and Safety - With the recent heightened interest in traffic congestion and its effect on ecology, C.R.E.S.T. has also started education and safety programs for cyclists.

Back To School Campaign – As Vancouver students return to school each year in the first few weeks of September, C.R.E.S.T. organizes an education and enforcement campaign to ensure the public is aware of the increased number of pedestrians around schools.

Two Strikes You're Out Campaign – During the summer months, C.R.E.S.T. organizes an education and enforcement campaign with community policing centres to promote safety in the City of Vancouver around parks, playgrounds and other high pedestrian areas.

Enforcement - When not busy doing presentations, C.R.E.S.T. members also try to do targeted enforcement in and around high collision areas within the city.