School is back in session! Yellow school buses are back on their well-traveled routes around town, and the backpacks are bobbing up and down the sidewalks again.
Active and Safe Routes to School Peterborough is eager to have everyone enjoy the walk, bike, or bus trip to and from school.
After all, walking, biking, or riding the bus to school helps increase daily physical activity, make connections within the community, and decrease congestion in the school zone.
With all those extra feet on the street, it is important for all road users to give some extra attention to school zone safety. Families and schools spend time each fall reviewing how to safely cross the road and board the bus with young students. Older students often map out safe walking and biking routes with family and friends. There are even more people in the community who work together to keep our school zones safe.
The Crossing Guards of Peterborough play an important role in our community. They are entrusted with the responsibility of assisting elementary school children in safely crossing the road to and from school. Our crossing guards are City of Peterborough employees who are sanctioned under the Ontario Highway Traffic Act.
You will recognize them by their fluorescent orange safety vests and hand-held flashing STOP signs, as they spend their weekdays outside braving weather to help students get to school safely.
Drivers can do their part to ensure everyone’s safety, too. The Crossing Guards of Peterborough would like to remind drivers to slow down when approaching a school-crossing zone. When dropping of kids at school, be sure to park in an area designated by the school.
When approaching a school crossing, a crossing guard may have their STOP sign raised. If so, they are indicating their intention to enter the roadway so drivers must stop, and remain stopped, until everyone has safely crossed and exited the roadway.
The Making Ontario’s Roads Safer Act, 2015 requires drivers and cyclists to stop at school crossings when a school crossing guard is present and displaying a school crossing stop sign. The Act stipulates that drivers and cyclists may only proceed when all pedestrians and the crossing guard are completely off the roadway. This applies to all school crossings, including signalized intersections with crossing guards.
Under the Highway Traffic Act, failing to obey this new law could result in a fine of $150 to $500 and the loss of three demerit points — and these fines are doubled in community safety zones.
You may have seen the Don’t Let Your Guard Down campaign, which aims to educate school children and adults about their roles and responsibilities when crossing at a school crosswalk. If you’ve missed it, or want a refresher, a short and sweet “Don’t Let Your Guard Down” educational video is available for download from the City of Peterborough’s Crossing Guards education page (or watch it below).
VIDEO: “Don’t Let Your Guard Down” – The Crossing Guards of Peterborough
The CAA School Safety Patrol program, operating at more than 800 Ontario schools, is also helping to safely keep students walking, biking, and busing to school. The Peterborough Police Service provides training for our local School Safety Patrollers, who act as an extra set of eyes and ears. They are there to assist students with crossing the road safely and often work alongside the city Crossing Guards.
There are three types of student foot patrollers: street patrollers, driveway patrollers, and student pick-up/drop-off patrollers. The students work in pairs encouraging other students to cross roads in a safe, responsible way, and educate their classmates on how to cross roads safely by setting a good example.
The Peterborough Police Service is also out in our community reminding everyone about safety for the trip to and from school. Motorists are reminded to be aware of school zone signs and to reduce speed in school zones. Be patient and wait for children to complete their crossing and remember to stop when directed to do so by a crossing guard — it’s the law!
Active and Safe Routes to School Peterborough can help families plan safe and enjoyable routes to and from school. When planning a route consider sidewalks, intersections, and where there is assistance like a crossing guard or school safety patroller.
Jump on-line at peterboroughmoves.com to see if your school has created a Route to School Planner. If not, the Active and Safe Routes to School team can help families and schools develop their own route plan. Contact Jaime Akiyama at GreenUP, 705-745-3238 ext. 210.
Also, watch for the Car Free Wednesdays program, which is rolling out at schools again this fall. Car Free Wednesdays is an Active and Safe Routes to School program that aims to get more students walking, biking, or busing to school. By doing so, you can help decrease traffic in the school zone, get more eyes and ears on the streets, and make connections that will increase safety in the community.
Students can make plans to meet friends as they walk or bike to school or meet up at the bus stop for some fun while waiting for the bus. Car Free Wednesdays are a great way to have a little fun and make connections with neighbours while everyone contributes to increasing school zone safety.
Teacher, school staff, or parents interested in having Car Free Wednesdays at your school can get more information, or register for prizes, at peterboroughmoves.com or by contacting Jaime Akiyama at jaime.akiyama@greenup.on.ca.
