Be Alert and Drive Safe as Students Head Back to School

With school starting next week, there will be a lot more traffic on the roads and thousands of students commuting to and from school. The City of Mississauga wants to remind all residents to be alert and cautious when using roadways.

“For many, back to school is an exciting time; however, it is also a time where we need everyone to be more vigilant when it comes to road safety,” said Mayor Bonnie Crombie. “Back to school brings increased traffic, additional vehicles on roadways and more people walking, cycling or getting dropped off at different locations. Whether you walk, ride your bike or drive to school, we are committed to working with our community partners to keep our pedestrians, cyclists and drivers safe.”

Safety tips for students and drivers:

“Drivers are encouraged to take extra safety precautions as students return to school and keep road safety top of mind,” said Pat Saito, Ward 9 Councillor and Chair of the City’s Road Safety Committee. “For some students, this is the first year they are walking to school without a parent. It’s a busy time on the roads and we all have a responsibility to get our students safely to and from school.”

Current City Road Safety Initiatives::

• Crossing Guards: The City has more than 200 school crossing guards who will be ready on the first day of school to help students at designated crossings around Mississauga.
• Please Slow Down Lawn Signs: Residents are encouraged to post a Please Slow Down lawn sign to encourage safe driving habits and lower vehicle operating speeds on neighbourhood streets. These signs are available at the Customer Service Counter at 3185 Mavis Rd. or through Councillors’ offices, free of cost.
• Traffic Calming: City staff are currently planning the construction of traffic calming projects in five neighbourhoods to change driver behaviour, with additional traffic calming projects anticipated this fall. Staff are also implementing a number of passive traffic calming techniques in the form of white painted edge lines and a yellow centreline. These markings have proven successful in other areas by visually reducing the travelled width of the roadway, making it less comfortable for motorists to increase their operating speeds.
• Pedestrian Crossovers: The City installed five new pedestrian crossovers in various neighbourhoods last year. A pedestrian crossover is a type of crossing where by law, drivers are required to stop for pedestrians intending to cross the road. Crossovers allow pedestrians to cross roads safely, and all have specific signs and pavement markings. Pedestrian crossovers have proven to be an effective way to assist pedestrians in crossing the road safely.
• Vision Zero: In early 2018, Council approved Vision Zero, a framework which focuses on the prevention of fatalities and injuries due to motor vehicle collisions. It is based on a system of shared responsibilities among all partners involved in the road system, including governments, planners, police and community organizations.
• Transportation Master Plan: The City’s first Transportation Master Plan (TMP) was endorsed by Council this year. The plan outlines a vision, six goals and over 90 action items to guide the future of the City’s transportation system from today to 2041. Inherent in the plan is a commitment to advancing Vision Zero, a strategy to eliminate all traffic fatalities and injuries.

The City has two safety advisory committees: Road Safety Committee and Traffic Safety Council. Students are encouraged to walk to and from school, which is a great form of daily exercise and helps to ease traffic congestion in school zones.

For more road safety information or additional safety tips, please visit: mississauga.ca/roadsafety.

Tags

• Public Safety
• Students, Children & Youth