Make safety the priority in school zones
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Follow the rules of the road, be alert and keep your distance from others!
As some students make their way back to in-class learning this week, there will be more pedestrians on sidewalks throughout the city. To help stop the spread of COVID-19, the City of Vaughan is reminding everyone to stay vigilant, practise physical distancing from others, avoid gathering in groups and wear a mask when physical distancing is not possible.
In response to the pandemic, the City continues to implement measures to ensure the health and safety of all staff and citizens, including school crossing guards and children travelling to and from school.
With the safety of crossing guards and school children top-of-mind, the City has taken the following precautions:
- Training crossing guards on COVID-19-related procedures and safety measures.
- Providing crossing guards with masks.
- Requiring crossing guards to complete the Province's COVID-19 self-assessment questionnaire before reporting to work to ensure they are symptom-free.
- Installing signage at all school crossing guard locations to reinforce physical distancing.
While students head back to school, there will also be more pedestrian and vehicular traffic on the roads before and after classes. It’s important for children, parents and drivers to be alert, follow the rules of the road and walk safely – especially in school zones. Take extra precautions around crosswalks, pedestrian crossovers, stopped school buses, schools and intersections.
Tips for pedestrians of all ages:
- Be mindful of slippery conditions on both the sidewalk and roadway.
- 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.
- Always obey all traffic rules and signals.
- Ensure you are visible to drivers and cyclists before crossing and make eye contact once they have stopped.
- Cross at designated crosswalks, crossovers or controlled intersections.
Tips for drivers and cyclists:
- Reduce speed in school zones, especially when winter conditions are present, and be ready to stop at all times.
- Be mindful of large snowbanks that can create sightline issues.
- Expect the unexpected. Children may cross the street at the wrong place, run into 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 all laws, 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 surroundings and watch for, and yield to, pedestrians when approaching a pedestrian crossover. (Failing to do so may result in 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 by 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 of Vaughan’s Transportation and Fleet Management Services and By-law and Compliance, Licensing and Permit Services departments as well as Vaughan Fire and Rescue Service. Together, with York Regional Police, York Region, York Region District School Board and York Catholic District School Board, the City is working to ensure the safety of all members of the community.
As part of this approach, the City has launched its 2020/21 Speed Compliance Program for school zones. Speed signs have been installed in locations at elementary schools throughout the city for two-week periods to help raise awareness of motorist travel speed and safety.
As well, schools throughout York Region are encouraging students and their families to use active means of travel to school such as walking or biking instead of driving. Active School Travel programs promote increased physical activity, manage traffic congestion and improve air quality. Parents can learn more through their child’s school.
Those who feel unwell, and believe they have symptoms related to COVID-19, should contact York Region Public Health at 1-800-361-5653 or Telehealth Ontario at 1-866-797-0000. For additional information and resources on the virus, visit York Region's website at york.ca/COVID19.
To receive Vaughan’s latest updates as they happen, sign up for the City Update eNewsletter at vaughan.ca/CityUpdate and follow the City’s Twitter, Facebook and Instagram channels.
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