School’s back in session – slow down, Vaughan!

When you look outside and see school buses, crossing guards and people walking with backpacks on – you know students must be heading back to school! That means more kids and cars will be on the roads starting this week, so it’s more important than ever for drivers to slow down and pay attention.

The City of Vaughan is reminding drivers to hit the brakes on speeding and put safety in the driver’s seat. Take extra precautions around crosswalks, intersections, pedestrian crossovers, schools and parks. 

Here are more safety tips to keep in mind:

For drivers and cyclists: 

• Reduce speed in school zones, especially when slippery conditions are present, and be ready to stop at all times.
• Be sure to 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 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 and yield the whole roadway to pedestrians when approaching a pedestrian crossover. Failing to do so may result in fines of up to $1,000 and four demerit points.
• Avoid distraction within the vehicle and ensure children are secured in a correctly installed child restraint seat.
• 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.

For pedestrians of all ages:

• Walk young children to school.
• Encourage children to always obey the crossing guards.
• Walk, don’t run, when crossing the street.
• Pay attention to vehicle 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.
• Be mindful of slippery conditions on sidewalks and roadways.

#SlowDownVaughan

Show your commitment to safety and urge your community to drive safely and obey speed limits on roads by participating in the City’s #SlowDownVaughan initiative. There are many ways you can get involved:

• Place a #SlowDownVaughan sign on your lawn. Pick up a sign at Vaughan community centres and the three Vaughan Public Libraries resource libraries – Bathurst Clark, Civic Centre and Pierre Berton. Signs are produced by the City and are free to take.

• Download (PDF) and print a #SlowDownVaughan sign to hang in your window at home. 

• Post about this initiative on social media using the hashtag #SlowDownVaughan (supporting graphics are available on the City’s website).

Safer School Zones Plan

As part of MoveSmart, the City is developing a Safer School Zones Plan. The plan will include:

• recommendations for additional road safety measures near schools.
• policies, guidelines and standards to improve pick-up and drop-off activity, enhance pedestrian safety, and address parking, speeding and traffic circulation around schools.
• a review of Vaughan’s Active School Travel pilot program and recommendations to expand the program.
• engagement and educational opportunities to enhance active school travel in Vaughan and encourage elementary and secondary school students to participate.

Safe school zones and the community's well-being remain a top priority for the City. We continue to collaborate with stakeholders and leverage partnerships to raise awareness, share information and promote active and sustainable travel, as road safety is a shared value and responsibility. To learn more, visit vaughan.ca/SchoolZoneSafety.

Speed Limit Policy

Also part of MoveSmart is the Speed Limit Policy, a speed management tool to set and adjust appropriate speed limits throughout the City’s street network. Approved by Council on March 21, 2023 (PDF), speed limits have been reduced in five additional Vaughan neighbourhoods – one in each ward – and along 15 City roadways. Over the summer, City staff installed new speed limit signs indicating the change from 50 kilometres per hour to 40 kilometres per hour. For more information, visit vaughan.ca/SpeedPolicy.

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