In Ottawa, students return to class in August and September. With more children walking, cycling, and taking the bus, it’s important for drivers, parents, and students to do their part to stay alert and help keep roads and school zones safe.
Drivers should slow down in school zones, watch for pedestrians, crossing guards, and cyclists, and be prepared to stop.
Always obey school bus signals, stop in both directions on roads without a median when red lights are flashing and don’t forget yield to pedestrians at both crossovers and intersections.
Parents can help by reviewing safe routes to school with their children, reminding them to make eye contact with drivers before crossing, and ensuring young cyclists wear helmets. Cyclists should also dismount before crossing the road. Students are encouraged to follow the directions of crossing guards, stay alert by putting phones and headphones away, and use sidewalks or marked crossings whenever possible.
Back to School Safety
The Ottawa Police Service is reminding everyone to stay alert and help keep our roads and school zones safe.
Drivers:
Focus on the road and slow down. School zones are bustling, and drivers must exercise extra caution. The Ottawa Police Service reminds motorists to:
- Slow down and strictly obey posted speed limits in all school zones.
- Always pay full attention to the road—put the phone away and do not text and drive.
- Come to a complete stop at all stop signs and intersections; rolling stops are illegal and dangerous.
- Avoid blocking crosswalks or intersections when stopping in traffic.
- Wait for crossing guards to safely return completely to the sidewalk before resuming driving.
- Leave extra space around school buses, cyclists, and pedestrians.
- Always obey school bus signals, stopping in both directions on roads without a median when red lights are flashing.
Parents:
Prepare your kids for a safe journey. Parents play a crucial role in modeling and teaching road safety. When preparing your children for their daily commute:
- Avoid rushing. Give yourselves extra time to get ready.
- Review safe, designated routes to school together.
- Encourage children to walk with a buddy if possible.
- Show children how to safely cross the street and practice this with them often.
- Ensure young cyclists always wear a properly fitted helmet.
- Remind children to completely disembark and walk their bikes across all designated crossing areas and intersections, rather than riding through them.
- Teach children to make eye contact with drivers before stepping off the curb to ensure they have been seen.
- Remind children to cross only when it is safe, even if they have the right of way.
- Ensure cyclists are not distracted while riding their bikes, avoid using a phone or wearing earphones that may limit their ability to see and hear what is going on around them.
Students:
Stay aware and alert. Students can protect themselves and others by staying mindful of their surroundings:
- Be alert and obey the rules of the road.
- Always follow the directions of crossing guards and use sidewalks or marked crossings.
- Stay alert by putting phones and headphones away while walking or cycling near traffic.
By working together and staying vigilant, we can ensure every student arrives at school and returns home safely.
