There’s no March ‘Break’ from safe driving

Drivers are reminded to #SlowDownVaughan while school is out

March Break is just around the corner and that means students will be out enjoying fun outdoor activities. The City of Vaughan is reminding drivers to be extra vigilant on the roads throughout this week and beyond.

Children, parents/guardians and drivers need to be alert and follow the rules of the road. Take extra precautions around crosswalks, intersections, pedestrian crossovers, schools and parks. Look for stopped buses, large vehicles, snowplows and large winter operation and maintenance trucks that can obstruct the view of pedestrians.

Tips for drivers: 

• 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.
• Check weather and road conditions before leaving home or work. You may need to allow extra travel time or wait until conditions improve.
• Keep a safe distance from snowplows and salting equipment.  
• Obey the rules of the road, including posted speed limits.
• Obey all traffic signs and signals. Stop at all stop signs 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 in fines from York Regional Police of up to $1,000 and four demerit points.
• Leave nine metres (or 29 feet) between your vehicle and crosswalks and/or stop signs when parking. Parking too close to these objects makes it difficult to see children when crossing the road.
• Take extra time to look for children at intersections, on medians or curbs.
• Enter and exit driveways and laneways with extra caution.
• 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.
• Use extra caution when driving in hard to see conditions, such as nighttime or bad weather.

Tips for pedestrians:

• Be mindful of slippery conditions on sidewalks and roadways.
• Encourage children to always obey crossing signals.
• Walk, don’t run, when crossing the street.
• Pay attention to vehicular traffic while walking along or crossing roads, entering or exiting driveways, or backing up in parking lots.
• 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.
• Wear reflective clothing or carry something bright during low light or dark conditions.

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 (excluding Garnet A. Williams Community Centre while it remains temporarily closed for renovations) 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 Vaughan residents.
• Download (PDF) and print a #SlowDownVaughan sign to hang in your window. 
• Post about this initiative on your social media platforms using the hashtag #SlowDownVaughan (supporting graphics are available on the City’s website).

Committing to #SlowDownVaughan and adjusting your driving habits may save a life. To date, more than 5,700 signs have been picked up by residents at community centres, libraries or City-led events. To learn more about this city-wide campaign, visit vaughan.ca/SlowDownVaughan.

#SlowDownVaughan is just one of several initiatives underway related to road safety. The City's MoveSmart Mobility Management Strategy sets the direction and priorities while ensuring an efficient, reliable, safe and sustainable transportation system. MoveSmart was guided by input received from the public, which identified road safety and effective traffic management as top priorities to help meet the existing and evolving needs of the community. The strategy consists of four programs, one of them being the Road Safety Program, created to increase road safety and raise public awareness. Read more about Vaughan’s road safety initiatives in this handbook.

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. For more information, visit vaughan.ca/SpeedPolicy.

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