School Zones are places where drivers need to take extra care.

Every school day, children and families are walking, rolling and cycling to and from school, while school crossing guards help students cross streets safely. These busy environments require drivers to slow down, stay focused and be ready to respond to what is happening around them.

The choices we make behind the wheel can have a direct impact on the safety of everyone travelling to and from school.

School Zones Help Protect:

Children
School crossing guards
People walking, rolling and cycling

Lives Depend on Your Choices

Every trip through a School Zone comes with a responsibility to look out for the people around you.

Slowing down, staying focused and being prepared to stop can make all the difference.

What Is a School Zone?

A School Zone is an area of roadway near a school where drivers should expect increased activity from children, families, school crossing guards, pedestrians and cyclists.

School Zones can be especially busy during arrival and dismissal times, when more people are travelling to and from school and crossing surrounding streets.

Signs, pavement markings, pedestrian crossings and other traffic measures can help drivers recognize these environments, but creating a safer School Zone ultimately requires everyone to do their part.

For drivers, that means recognizing when you are approaching a school, paying close attention to your surroundings and making safe choices behind the wheel.

Obey the Law

Don’t Speed

Drive the posted speed limit.

Slowing down gives you more time to see what is happening around you, react to unexpected movements and stop when necessary.

Stop When Required

Fully stop at stop signs, crosswalks, and for school crossing guards and school buses.

Pay particular attention during school arrival and dismissal periods and give children and other road users the time and space they need to cross safely.

Never Drive Impaired

Alcohol, cannabis and other drugs can impair your ability to drive safely.

Stay Alert

Focus

Be aware of your surroundings.

Watch for children and other road users approaching intersections, crosswalks, driveways and the roadway.

Avoid All Distractions

School environments can change quickly and require your full attention.

Put distractions away and avoid all distractions while driving.

Be Prepared to Stop

Children may not always behave as drivers expect.

Stay alert, anticipate the unexpected and be prepared to stop.

Why SAFE Speeds Zones?

SAFE Speeds Zones was created by the Ontario Traffic Council to encourage safer choices behind the wheel and help protect everyone who shares Ontario’s streets. The campaign is built around a simple message: SAFE – Streets Are For Everyone.

The campaign focuses on three types of areas where road safety deserves particular attention:

School Zones | Community Safety Zones | Construction Zones

Through SAFE Speeds Zones, the Ontario Traffic Council is providing municipalities with consistent road safety messaging and ready-to-use resources to help educate drivers and promote safer behaviours in their communities.

At the heart of the campaign is one simple message:

Lives Depend on Your Choices.

Our Shared Responsibility

Safer School Zones depend on all of us.

Every time we slow down, stay alert, avoid distractions, obey the law and prepare to stop, we make a choice that can help protect a child, a school crossing guard or someone walking, rolling or cycling.

Safe Kids.
Strong Community.
Better Tomorrow.

SAFE – Streets Are For Everyone.

Bring SAFE Speeds Zones to Your Community

Municipalities across Ontario are invited to use SAFE Speeds Zones resources to support local School Zone road safety education and public awareness initiatives.

Download School Zone posters, social media graphics, videos and other campaign materials and share the SAFE Speeds Zones message in your community.