Educating Drivers on School Safety Zones

Toronto Police officers issued 639 tickets and warnings for road safety offences within 200 metres of schools during the Service’s back-to-school campaign from September 8 to 18.

The enforcement included 434 tickets and warnings for aggressive driving, 134 for speeding and 71 for distracted driving. Officers also issued eight tickets and warnings to people operating micromobility devices near schools.

Inspector Paul Qureshi, of Traffic Services, said the results show why the Service must continue its work around school zones getting drivers to slow down and drive with heightened awareness.

“There are still people who are not following the rules of the road, especially in community safety and school safety zones, which puts our children and vulnerable road users at risk,” he said.

During the campaign, police recorded 22 collisions involving a pedestrian or micromobility device within 200 metres of a school. Eleven involved pedestrians and 11 involved micromobility devices. None were fatal.

Qureshi said enforcement is one part of the effort to make the trip to and from school safer.

“We need to continue to work with the community and with the schools to raise awareness and education and continue our enforcement efforts,” he noted.

Parking Enforcement ran a separate, complementary two-week back-to-school safety campaign. Parking Enforcement Officers visited 549 schools, issued 500 penalty notices and cautioned 665 drivers. Their campaign emphasized visibility, education and enforcement during the busy return-to-school period.

Qureshi said the two teams supported one another’s work making sure students have a safe journey to and from school.

“We’re doing what we can to try and make our roads safe,” he added. “However, there is still work to be done.”