As the back-to-school season approaches, a new survey by the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) reveals alarming statistics regarding safety in school zones. According to the survey, 63 percent of parents express feelings that their child’s school zone is very unsafe, and up to 80 percent believe congestion around schools has worsened significantly.
In particular, 83 percent of parents have reported witnessing dangerous driving behaviors in these areas, with the most frequent violations being speeding, stopping in undesignated zones, and double parking. Lauren Fisher, Manager of Government Relations with CAA SCO, highlighted these issues, stressing that such behaviors create hazardous conditions for children.
Parents from Scarborough echo these concerns, as prior incidents near two Kingston Road schools raised alarms. Children were seen waiting perilously close to six lanes of high-speed traffic, prompting local parent Jens Casten, whose children attend one of the schools, to advocate for necessary changes. For the past two years, Casten has been calling for increased signage and a reduction in the speed limit to improve safety.
Casten stated, “It’s crucial that something is done before someone dies,” pointing out that in the past, a bus stop was located in a dangerous area where children would overflow onto sidewalks. With vehicles often exceeding 90 to 100 kilometers per hour, he believes this creates a severe hazard. Tragically, he noted that one child was hit by a car while crossing the road last year.
In response to these concerns, the local authorities acted, moving the bus stop further down the road to a safer pickup and drop-off zone just two weeks ago. Furthermore, Scarborough Southwest Councillor Parthi Kandavel introduced a motion to decrease the speed limit on Kingston Road from 60 km/h to 50 km/h between Brimley and Midland. This new speed reduction will take effect as of this coming Friday, coinciding with the start of the school year.
Despite these measures, both Casten and Councillor Kandavel agree that further actions are necessary to ensure student safety. Last fall, the province allotted 75 new automated speed enforcement cameras to the City of Toronto, yet Kandavel lamented that his ward did not receive any of these crucial safety tools. He expressed disappointment, arguing that having an automatic speed enforcement camera in this location is a “no-brainer,” considering it is the only school in Toronto with a six-lane highway directly in front.
Kandavel remains hopeful that the City’s Transportation Department and City Hall will reconsider their decision regarding the placement of speed enforcement cameras at this location. As the CAA survey indicates, nearly 50 percent of parents support lowering the speed limit in school zones, with many deeming 30 km/h as the ideal speed for these areas. Currently, school zone speed limits in Ontario range from 30 to 40 km/h. The CAA has also issued a reminder for drivers to reduce speed, eliminate distractions, and stop for school buses that have their flashing lights activated.
