Get back to school safely!

March 20, 2022 10:00 a.m.
City of Vaughan
​Important safety reminders for parents, children and drivers

 

March Break has come to an end, and, as children head back to class, it’s important for all pedestrians and road users to keep road safety top of mind. Follow these safety tips from the City of Vaughan when travelling to and from school or throughout school zone areas.

Children, parents and drivers need to be alert and follow the rules of the road. Take extra precautions around crosswalks, pedestrian crossovers, stopped school buses, schools and intersections.

Tips for all pedestrians:

  • Walk young children to school.
  • Encourage children to always obey crossing guards.
  • Walk, don’t run, when crossing the street.
  • Pay attention to vehicular traffic while walking along or crossing roads.
  • Obey all traffic rules and signals.
  • Ensure you are visible to drivers and cyclists, and make eye contact once they have stopped before crossing.
  • Cross at designated crosswalks, crossovers or controlled intersections only.
  • Be mindful of slippery conditions on sidewalks and roadways.

Tips for drivers and cyclists: 

  • Reduce speed in school zones, especially when slippery conditions are present, and be ready to stop at all times.
  • Give yourself enough time to get to your destination without the need for speed.
  • Expect the unexpected. Children may cross the street at the wrong place, run into oncoming traffic or ride a bike in front of a vehicle without warning.
  • Stop for school buses and be aware of children running in front of or behind buses.
  • Avoid U-turns in school zones.
  • Do not pass other vehicles in a school zone.
  • Obey the rules of the road, including posted speed limits.
  • Abide by all parking and traffic regulations in school zones.
  • Obey crossing guard signals and yield to pedestrians.
  • Pay attention to your surroundings. Watch for, stop and yield the whole roadway to pedestrians when approaching a pedestrian crossover. Failing to do so may result fines from York Regional Police of up to $1,000 and four demerit points.
  • Avoid distractions within the vehicle and ensure children are secured in a correctly installed child restraint seat if required.
  • Ensure children exit on the passenger side of the vehicle.
  • Keep fire routes and bus zones clear.
  • Leave nine metres (or 29 feet) between the car and the crosswalks and/or stop signs when parking. Parking too close to these locations makes it difficult to see children when crossing the road.
  • Avoid double parking in school zones.
  • Watch for signs indicating “No Stopping” and “No Parking.”
  • Stay back 0.6 metres (or two feet) from private driveways to avoid upsetting residents.

School zone safety is a joint priority for the City’s Transportation and Fleet Management Services, By-law and Compliance, Licensing and Permit Services and Vaughan Fire and Rescue Service departments. Together with York Regional Police, York Region, York Region District School Board and York Catholic District School Board, the City is working to ensure all community members' safety.   

Visit vaughan.ca/SchoolZoneSafety for more information.

#SlowDownVaughan

The City of Vaughan encourages you to make road safety a priority in your life and commit to driving safely through the City’s #SlowDownVaughan initiative.

There are many ways you can share this commitment: 

  • Share your resolution on your social media platforms using the hashtag #SlowDownVaughan (graphics are available on the City’s website).
  • Download (PDF) and print the #SlowDownVaughan sign to hang in your window. 
  • Place a #SlowDownVaughan sign on your lawn.

Lawn signs are available at community centres (excluding Garnet A. Williams Community Centre) and the three Vaughan Public Libraries Resource Libraries – Bathurst Clark, Civic Centre and Pierre Berton. You can download the print-at-home window signs or social media graphics at vaughan.ca/SlowDownVaughan. Signs are produced by the City and are free to Vaughan residents.

Speed Limit Policy

Approved by Council on June 2, 2021 (PDF), the Speed Limit Policy sets and adjusts appropriate speed limits throughout the City’s street network to continue to ensure a safe community for all road users and address growing urbanization as more cars are anticipated to be on the roads. As part of the City’s MoveSmart Mobility Management Strategy, the policy is exclusive to municipal roads and focuses on four areas within Vaughan’s road network: rural roadways, built-up/urban areas (including school zones), public laneways and select neighbourhoods. Evidence suggests that lowering speed limits, especially in residential areas, can be effective in reducing the risk of severe injury or even death due to a motor vehicle accident.

Below are areas where the City has reduced speed limits to date:

  • Select neighbourhood areas will be reduced from 50 kilometres per hour to 40 kilometres per hour by fall 2022.
  • Public laneways were reduced to 30 kilometres per hour on Dec. 1, 2021.
  • School zones were reduced from 50 to 40 kilometres per hour on Sept. 8, 2021.

For more information and updates on the City’s Speed Limit Policy, visit vaughan.ca/SpeedPolicy.

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