Hi Kelly,

It’s that time of year again! Students all across Ottawa are making their way back to school. Do you remember how to drive safely in School Zones – or even what a School Zone looks like? Nearly a quarter of drivers report seeing close calls in school zones, so take care and make sure you’re following all recommendations to keep pedestrians, cyclists and all road users safe!

• Reduce speeds in school zones
• Be alert and ready to stop
• Be on the lookout for and obey school bus signals
• Watch for pedestrian crossovers (PXOs), and follow the rules
• Obey adult crossing guards and watch for walking school bus leaders
• Leave some extra time to get travel during school bell times
• Be patient - everyone is getting used to school being back in session!

The Ottawa Safety Council

PS - Learn more about road safety by taking the #RoadSMARTS pledge. By taking the Road SMARTS Pledge, you Support Making All Road Travel Safe, which can help improve road safety for everyone.

Car congestion in school zones can be tricky to navigate. Many parents are worried about their child’s safety in the crowded drop-off zone, so they drive them to school; but that adds more cars and even more congestion, which means more danger for young pedestrians and cyclists.

Help keep school zones safe by reading out school drop-off safety tips.

• Know the rules
• Don't rush
• Follow school zone speed limits
• Stay focused - ditch distractions
• Obey Crossing Guards
• Park and Walk-A-Block
• Encourage walking or cycling

However you’re getting your kids to school – or even if you just need to pass by a school zone on your way to work – keep calm, have patience, and always put the safety of children at the top of your list.

Prepare for a safe school year by reading our full school zone safety tips

Road safety principles are most effective when learned at a young age. We need to educate our children on how to keep themselves safe. Our WalkSafe Pedestrian Safety presentations give children the tools, knowledge, and skills to prevent injury.

Presentations are age-appropriate (Kindergarten to Grade 6) and equip children with the tools to keep themselves safe while walking, biking, skateboarding or scootering to school. We provide the tools to encourage healthy, active and SAFE living.  

They are available in French and English and are interactive; use flash-cards, PowerPoint, props, games, songs and a working model of a traffic light!

If you're interested in learning more or booking an in-person WalkSafe Presentation for your school, click the button below.

Are you looking for a part-time job with a purpose? We're still looking to add Crossing Guards to our remarkable team of over 200 Guards!

Learn how you can work in your community or for more information on this rewarding employment opportunity, visit: https://www.ottawasafetycouncil.ca/crossing-guard-program/  

or reach out to Stephanie, our Recruiter!

Visit the Employment Section of our website for more information.