Thank you, Vaughan crossing guards
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The City recognizes School Crossing Guard Appreciation Day today
School zone safety is a priority for the City – it also is for Vaughan’s 114 crossing guards. Today is School Crossing Guard Appreciation Day, and the City wants to recognize and thank the dedicated people who help children as they travel to and from school each day. Visit vaughan.ca/CrossingGuard to learn more about this important job.
Safety in school zones is even more important during a pandemic. In response to COVID-19, the City has taken the following precautions to keep everyone healthy:
- 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 each day to ensure they are symptom-free.
- Installing signage at all school crossing guard locations to reinforce physical distancing.
The City also reminds everyone going to and from school to stay vigilant, practise physical distancing from others, avoid gathering in groups and wear a mask when physical distancing is not possible. Visit vaughan.ca/SchoolZoneSafety for more information.
Streets and sidewalks can be busy when heading to school in the morning and leaving in the afternoon. That’s why it’s important for children, parents and drivers to be alert, follow the road rules and walk safely – especially in school zones. Take extra precautions around crosswalks, pedestrian crossovers, stopped school buses and intersections.
Tips for pedestrians of all ages:
- Walk young children to school.
- Obey crossing guards, traffic rules and signals.
- Walk, don’t run, when crossing the street.
- Pay attention to vehicular traffic while walking along or crossing roads.
- Be 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 and be ready to stop at all times.
- 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 heavy fines from York Regional Police and 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 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, 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.
As part of this approach, the City has launched its 2020/21 Speed Compliance Program for school zones. Speed signs have been installed in elementary school locations 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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