A message from Ottawa Bylaw: Reminder to all parents and guardians: When dropping off or picking up your kids, always use designated areas or park and walk. Let’s keep our school zones safe and clear!
A message from Public Safety Canada: During the back to school season, there may be more traffic on the road and neighbourhood streets – drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians. Be mindful of your speed and watch out for a higher presence of children. For back to school safety and planning tips, please visit getprepared.gc.ca.
A message from Ottawa Police: Back to School season is here! As students of all ages return to the classroom, the Ottawa Police Service would like to wish everyone a safe return to school and provide some safety reminders to the community. Students are heading to school by bus, on foot, and by bike. Infractions in school zones will be fully enforced. Visit ottawapolice.ca for important safety reminders as well as helpful resources.
- Teach children the rules of the road, show them how to safely cross the street and how to look out for oncoming traffic.
- Drivers: stay alert for the increased presence of school buses, pedestrians, youth and child cyclists and other road users on our streets.
- Slow down in school zones and be prepared to stop at any time. Children may not always be aware of oncoming traffic.
- Obey school bus signals. Alwaysstop in both directions on roads without a median when a school bus is stopped with flashing lights. Fines for failing to stop range from $400 to $2,000 and carry six demerit points.
- Be cautious at pedestrian crossings—understand how they work and respect them when in use.
- Pedestrians and Young cyclists: Use sidewalks wherever they are available.
- Cross streets at intersections, paying close attention to traffic, and only proceed when it’s safe.
- Always wear a helmet when cycling and walk your bike across roadways.
- Follow the guidance of crossing guards, crossing patrols, and school bus drivers.
- Hate has no place in our community. Check in with students about safety at school and the importance of reporting hate-motivated incidents to police at ottawapolice.ca/report or by calling 613-236-1222.
