Road safety a top priority as thousands of Toronto students return to school. Here’s what the city is doing

City launches campaign to get drivers to slow down, adding speed cameras, more officers around school zones.

Thestar.com
Sept. 8, 2022
Isabel Teotonio

As Toronto students went back to school on Wednesday -- some cheerily running into the yard, while others needed coaxing into the building -- officials called on drivers to be vigilant and watch out for kids.

“The return to school always includes increased traffic and a higher number of people walking or cycling, especially in school safety zones,” said Toronto Mayor John Tory outside Bridlewood Junior Public School in Scarborough, as he pleaded with drivers to “please slow down.”

His comments came on the same day the city launched a public education campaign that includes messages on safety around schools, school buses, pedestrian crossovers and busy intersections.

Speaking with reporters, Tory noted the city has taken substantial actions through its Vision Zero Road Safety Plan, which is aimed at reducing traffic-related fatalities and serious injuries related to collisions.

Students head to class at Pope Francis Catholic School in the Ossington and Dundas area on Wednesday as school resumed for Toronto's public and Catholic boards.

They include 50 automated speed enforcement cameras installed near schools and in community safety zones, with 25 more on the way; the creation of 362 school safety zones -- these include speed signs, pavement markings and flashing beacons -- with plans to complete 70 more this year; about 800 school crossing guards across the city; and nearly 1,000 intersections with a pedestrian head start signal with 62 more planned by year’s end. The city is also reducing the speed limit to 30 km/h on local roads in Etobicoke, North York and Scarborough.

Tory said the 43,000 tickets issued in June and July -- to drivers caught speeding by the 50 automated cameras -- proves “we have a problem.” He later noted that speeding tickets have been issued to drivers going 120 km/h in a 40 km/h zone, and asked, “What could those people be thinking?”

In addition to representatives from the city, members of the Toronto Police Service were also on hand to hammer home the importance of road safety.

Acting Supervisor of Traffic Services Matt Moyer said Toronto police will be in and around school zones enforcing road safety and issuing tickets until Sept. 16. He was on hand at Bridlewood Junior Public School in Scarborough for the first day of school on Wednesday.

Matt Moyer, acting superintendent of traffic services at TPS, said that until Sept. 16, officers will be in and around school zones. They’ll be looking for drivers who are speeding, driving distracted, impaired or aggressively and will be targeting vehicles parked illegally at school pickup and drop-off zones. He said that in 2022, the TPS has so far laid 56,000 speeding charges, and received more than 1,500 reports of collisions that occurred within 100 metres of a school -- figures that “drive home the point that drivers need to be more diligent.”

“Be patient, attentive and a courteous driver and it can make a huge difference in a child’s safety,” said Moyer. “Children are amongst the most vulnerable road users.”

Earlier in the morning, as parents dropped off their children at the school, located near Victoria Park Avenue and Sheppard Avenue East, there were smiles, hugs, and even some tears.

The day was especially thrilling for Hannah Fung, 8, who moved here from Hong Kong in June and is eager to make friends.

“She was so excited and woke up very early,” explained mother Wendy Ng, noting Hannah was up by 6:30 a.m., an hour earlier than necessary. “She couldn’t wait to come to school.”

Hannah, who’s starting Grade 3, is also looking forward to once again having a full day of learning, and eating lunch with classmates, because when the pandemic started her school in Hong Kong switched to half a day of in-person learning, and for a period moved completely online. While she’s pumped about being at school, Hannah admits, “I love online lessons ... because in the middle I can play video games.”

Kids and parents share hugs and excitement on the first day of school at Pope Francis Catholic School in Toronto on Wednesday.

Nearby, Elena and Alex Crnatovic said goodbye to their six-year-old triplets, Polina, Stan and Stephan, who are beginning Grade 2.

“They’re excited. They want to play with their friends, but I’m not so sure they want to learn,” said father Alex Crnatovic. “They’re excited to be in the playground after school -- that I know for sure.”

On hand to welcome parents, students and staff was the Director of Education for the Toronto District School Board Colleen Russell-Rawlins.

She later told reporters the board’s focus “is on creating joy through learning,” particularly after more than two years of pandemic-related disruptions. This year is off to a normal start, with COVID-19 restrictions having been lifted and a full return to extracurriculars, such as sports, clubs and field trips.

“We are starting this year off with a great deal of hope and optimism for a year filled with learning and positive relationships,” she said. “Each and every student should thrive this year in our schools.”

Luna, 4, waits for the bell on her first day of Junior Kindergarten at Pope Francis Catholic School in Toronto on Wednesday.

Also out greeting families was the Director of Education for the Toronto Catholic District School Board, Brendan Browne, who was at Pope Francis Catholic School on Ossington Avenue, near Dundas Street West.

In an earlier interview with the Star, Browne said 99 per cent of the TCDSB’s students are returning this year for in-person learning, noting schools will look “closer to what we were used to before the pandemic.”

He said that in the lead-up to the first day, “the buzz” around his house -- he’s the father of two girls starting Grades 6 and 11 -- and his neighbourhood was “real excitement.”

“I think (this year) is going to be closer to what we all understand are the great things about school.”