City of Toronto reminds road users to watch for students heading back to school

The City of Toronto is reminding all road users to stay alert, obey the speed limit and watch for children in school zones as students head back to school this week. 

The City remains committed to keeping all road users safe through its Vision Zero Road Safety Plan using measures that reduce speed, improve visibility, and create safer routes for children travelling to and from school. Some measures include: 

• School Crossing Guards: More than 950 trained crossing guards at intersections across the city to help students cross the street safely. 

• School Safety Zones: More than 660 School Safety Zones are highly visible with Watch Your Speed signs, pavement markings, flashing beacons, zebra markings (white stripes on the roadway) at crosswalks to ensure motorists know they’re in a School Safety Zone and drive with extra caution. 

• Pedestrian Head Start Signals:  More than 1,700 intersections feature signals that allow pedestrians to start crossing before the green signal for vehicles, increasing pedestrian visibility and reducing conflicts with turning vehicles. 

More information about how the City is protecting all road users is available on the City's website.

 

Quotes: 

 “Every child deserves a safe walk to school and a safe walk home. As students head back to class this week, I’m asking everyone on our roads to slow down and pay attention in school zones. The City is doing its part through crossing guards, safety zones and safer street design. Now, we need everyone else to do theirs, too. Protecting our kids is a shared responsibility, and it’s one we all need to take seriously.” 

– Mayor of Toronto 

 

“With so many Toronto children heading back to school this week, we want to remind everyone to take extra care and make road safety a priority. School crossing guards, safety zones, and headstart signals are just a few of the ways that the City is working to make our streets safer. Thank you to everyone preparing to welcome students back to the start of a great school year.” 

– Councillor Ward 15 (Don Valley West) 

 

“The start of a new school year means more children, families, and school buses sharing our roads. As students return to classrooms across Toronto, officers across the Service will be conducting targeted education and enforcement in school zones across the city. Throughout the campaign, officers will focus on motorists whose behaviours place students and other vulnerable road users at risk, including speeding, distracted driving, impaired driving, unsafe behaviours at crossings, and illegal parking in and around school zones. Road safety is a shared responsibility, and we must all work together to follow the law and help keep our roads safe for everyone.” 

– Inspector Paul Qureshi, Toronto Police Service 

 

Toronto is home to more than three million people whose diversity and experiences make this great city Canada’s leading economic engine and one of the world’s most diverse and livable cities. As an Official Host City for the FIFA World Cup 2026™ and the fourth largest city in North America, Toronto is a global leader in technology, finance, film, music, culture and innovation and climate action, and consistently places at the top of international rankings due to investments championed by its government, residents and businesses. For more information visit the City's website or follow us on X, Instagram or Facebook.