Keep road safety top of mind as the school year begins

In the coming days, school zones, crossings and neighbourhood streets will become noticeably busier. The City is reminding drivers, transit users, cyclists, e-scooter users and pedestrians to be extra careful during the busy morning and afternoon school rush.

With increased traffic and activity on the road, the risk of collisions is higher. Children can move suddenly and unexpectedly, so all road users are encouraged to stay focused, so everyone reaches their destination safely.

Key road safety reminders

When driving in a school zone, remember to:

• Slow down and follow the posted speed limits.
• Obey the school crossing guard’s stop sign.
• Never proceed through crossings until students have completely crossed.
• Follow posted parking and stopping restrictions to avoid causing visibility issues on the road.
• Do not block sidewalks, driveways, fire routes and accessible parking spots.
• Avoid unsafe turning movements or stopping in the middle of the road to drop off students.
• Stop for school buses with flashing red lights and never try to overtake them. When a school bus has a flashing amber light, this means it’s getting ready to stop. Slow down and be prepared to stop.
• Allow MiWay buses to merge back into traffic when they signal. It’s the law!

When walking, cycling, riding a scooter or taking a bus to school, remember to:

• Cross streets only at marked crosswalks or crossrides, where possible.
• Follow the crossing guard’s instructions.
• Wear a helmet when biking, riding a scooter or skateboarding.
• When waiting for a school bus, stand back from the curb and wait until the bus comes to a complete stop.
• Follow all railway-crossing safety rules if your school route is near a railway crossing.

Using micro-mobility devices

To stay active throughout the year, some students prefer to walk, cycle or ride a scooter to school. Remember, it’s illegal and unsafe for kids under the age of 16 to ride an e-scooter. E-scooters may look easy and fun, but they are motorized vehicles that require a higher level of physical control, awareness and decision-making.

For children under 16, non-electric scooters and bicycles are a safer choice. These activities help build balance, coordination and confidence while allowing younger riders to develop important road safety and cycling skills.

Taking MiWay

Taking MiWay, the City’s transit network, is a great option for many students. Starting September 7, Route 110 University Express will run more often between City Centre Transit Terminal and Clarkson GO Station. As part of this change, Route 110A University Express will be discontinued, with service merging with Route 110 University Express.

MiWay is also resuming service on routes that support school travel including:

• 44 Mississauga Road
• 126 Burnhamthorpe Express
• All 300-series high school routes

A new secondary school route, 305 Streetsville SS, will also be introduced, operating between Meadowvale Village and Streetsville Secondary School.

Learn more about route changes.

Riding public transit is about sharing space:

• Keep your voice low and wear headphones when talking on the phone.
• Make room for others by keeping your belongings on your lap, at your feet or in front of you.
• Always pay your fare. You can use cash, PRESTO card (physical or digital) or PRESTO contactless. Youth and University of Mississauga students qualify for lower rates.
• Share space especially with seniors, expectant parents or riders with disabilities.

Remember, e-scooters and e-bikes are not allowed on MiWay buses or on the bike rack.

Crossing guard program

The City has more than 215 school crossing guards at more than 160 locations who will be ready on the first day of school. Crossing guards help school children from kindergarten to fifth grade cross the road safely.

The City’s Mississauga School Traffic Safety Action Committee conducts site inspections and safety reviews at or near schools on request. This helps find opportunities to improve safety for students and all road users.

School Walking Routes program

Get active by walking or cycling to school. The City has a School Walking Routes program that promotes active travel, such as walking or travelling by bike, wheelchair or other mobility devices, to and from school. School Route signs installed around the neighbourhood guide students on their way to school and alert drivers to watch for children.

Parking and stopping in school zones

Not following the parking, stopping and fire route signs and rules can make a school zone less safe. When driving students to school, use the school’s Kiss n’ Ride if one exists. Drivers can also consider parking safely a block away and walking the rest of the way to the school. Otherwise, please follow all parking, stopping and fire route signage, especially at drop-off and pick-up locations.

If you see parking safety concerns, report them by calling 311.

Beginning October 1, the City of Mississauga’s Parking Services will expand its use of Licence Plate Recognition (LPR) technology through the use of LPR-equipped enforcement vehicles. They capture licence plate information from illegally parked vehicles, enabling penalty notices to be mailed directly to registered vehicle owners. This technology will initially be used in school zones to help improve road safety and traffic flow around schools. An expansion to additional locations across the city is planned for next year. As penalty notices will be mailed to the address associated with a vehicle’s licence plate registration, vehicle owners are encouraged to ensure their address information with the Ministry of Transportation (MTO) is up to date.

For more road safety information and additional safety tips, visit mississauga.ca/roadsafety.

Tags

• Active Transportation
• Children & Youth
• Public Safety
• Students