School Safety Zones

A recent study by CAA on school zone safety found that 78% of parents have reported seeing unsafe driving behaviors like speeding, double-parking, and stopping in unsafe areas. In fact, only 37% of parents think the roads around their child’s school are ‘very safe’. Not surprisingly, the CAA School Zone Safety Study (May 2022) found that the majority of parents — 79% — support lowering the school zone speed limit to 30km/h. In northern Ontario communities, driver awareness and respecting the speed limit are even more important on winding roads with limited driver visibility. The back-to-school season is a great time to remind drivers to slow down, stop for school buses when they see the amber/red lights and extend their arms and make eye contact with passing pedestrians and cyclists. But being extra vigilant around school zones should be a priority right throughout the winter when icy roads and winter driving conditions pose a safety threat not just to students getting to school safely, but to all vehicles in the school safety zone.

We’re well into the new school year and everyone is beginning to settle into their fall routine, but there’s one group that seems to have forgotten that school zones are once again busy: motorists.

A recent school zone safety survey conducted on behalf of CAA South Central Ontario (CAA SCO) indicates that 78% of Ontario parents report having seen unsafe driving behaviors and only 37% consider the roads around their child’s school to be safe. Some of the most common unsafe driving behaviors parents have witnessed include speeding, double-parking, and stopping in undesignated areas. The survey also identified that more than half of parents in the province (66%) support the use of Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) in school zones, with 79% believing its presence would deter speeding around schools.

Julie Beun, Director of Communications and Public Relations for the North and East told 705blackfly.com that drivers have to step in up when it comes to slowing down. “Not surprisingly, the CAA School Zone Safety Study (May 2022) found that the majority of parents — 79% — support lowering the school zone speed limit to 30km/h. In northern Ontario communities, driver awareness and respecting the speed limit are even more important on winding roads with limited driver visibility. The back-to-school season is a great time to remind the drivers to slow down, stop for school buses when they see the amber/red lights, and extend arm and make eye contact with passing pedestrians and cyclists.”

Remember that it’s an offense to pass a stopped school bus with its red lights flashing and stop arm extended and the penalties are significant. Fines for a first offense range up to $2,000. It can also result in a significant number of demerit points.

Winter is fast approaching in Northern Ontario – Julie says that means additional hazards for those behind the wheel.

“Being extra vigilant around school zones should be a priority right throughout the winter when icy roads and winter driving conditions pose a safety threat not just to students getting to school safely, but for all vehicles in the school safety zone. Motorists can also use the following CAA tips to ensure they are staying safe in school zones:

Help reduce traffic with active school travel: Encourage your kids to walk or ride to school to ease traffic congestion. If your school is a further distance, CAA encourages parents and guardians to park a block away and walk to school, if possible, to reduce traffic and make school zones safer.
Slow down: Know the speed limit in your neighborhood’s school zones and respect them. Ensure you give yourself plenty of time to drop off your kids at school to avoid rushing.
Follow the rules of the road near school buses: Always stop for a stopped school bus with its upper flashing red light and/ stop arm activated and wait for children to get safely on or off. Stay alert and watch for children or parents/guardians crossing the road when the bus moves on.
Choose a safe spot to drop off and pick up your children from school: Follow your school’s rules and avoid double-parking or stopping on crosswalks, dropping off or picking up your kids on the opposite side of the street, and stopping in moving traffic as kids rush out. Instead, use the designated drop-off areas or consider a spot a bit farther away from school that is easily accessible and safe.
Make eye contact with passing pedestrians and cyclists: With the excitement of going back to school, anticipate that children may not easily see or hear your moving vehicle. Use eye contact to ensure pedestrians are aware of you driving your vehicle.
Watch for CAA School Safety Patrollers: As one of the largest youth volunteer programs in Canada, they play an important role by keeping their peers safe on school buses and in school zones. Keep a lookout for their bright safety vests.