Today is School Crossing Guard Appreciation Day!

School crossing guards play an important role in Vaughan. Today, on School Crossing Guard Appreciation Day, the City of Vaughan wants to recognize and thank the dedicated team of 114 crossing guards who help children safely travel to and from school each day.

Being a school crossing guard is a rewarding occupation that also offers a flexible work schedule. If you are interested in becoming a crossing guard, visit vaughan.ca/CrossingGuard for more information.

School zone safety is always top of mind for the City. It is part of the Active, Safe and Diverse Communities priority in the 2018-2022 Term of Council Service Excellence Strategic Plan and a shared initiative among 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 the safety and well-being of all community members. Visit vaughan.ca/SchoolZoneSafety for more information.

Road safety reminders

Streets and sidewalks can be busy in the morning when people are heading to school and the afternoon when they leave. 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. Remember, road safety is everyone’s responsibility.

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.

Tips for drivers and cyclists: 

• Reduce speed in school zones 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 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 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.

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