As the new school year approaches, the Town of Newmarket is encouraging everyone from drivers to pedestrians to always be safe. Remind your children about important safety precautions for traveling to and from school. Drivers are also urged to exercise caution as there may be an increase in foot, bicycle and vehicle traffic during the start of the new school year.
“As the school year begins, let’s work together to make safety a priority for everyone in our community,” says Mayor John Taylor. “We all have a part to play in providing a safe environment for the children in our community. By staying alert, slowing down and following the rules of the road, we can help ensure that everyone gets to and from school safely.”
New for this year! A pedestrian crossover at Gorham Street and Muriel Street was recently installed to improve safety for everyone and support the Town’s active transportation goals. When school begins, a crossing guard will remain in the area to safely assist those crossing.
Motorists must stop for pedestrians intending to cross the street using the pedestrian crossover. Failure to do so may result in fines of up to $1,000 and 4 demerit points. Motorists must remain stopped until the pedestrian has fully crossed. This crossing is marked with clear signage and pavement markings. Learn more by
viewing the video on how to use a pedestrian crossover.
Newmarket’s traffic safety mascots, Safety Cone Sam, Belle the Bike and Cameron the Camera remind residents to keep the following safety tips in mind.
School zone safety tips
- Drive according to the posted speed limit in school and Community Safety zones.
- Familiarize yourself with common traffic signs that you may encounter in school zones.
- Pay attention while driving in school parking lots and be aware of children who may be walking or running in the lot or in between parked cars.
- Do not park or idle in drop-off/pick-up zones. Avoid stopping in front of schools to ease congestion and make roads safer for everyone.
Walking to school safety tips
- Always cross the street at school crossing guard locations or at controlled intersections.
- Crossing guards ensure you and your children cross the street safely in school zones. Please remember to respect crossing guards and listen for the whistle and look for signals.
- Be patient and take your direction to walk from the pedestrian signals, not the lights.
- Be alert, pay attention to your surroundings and avoid using any mobile device or wearing headphones that will distract you while crossing the street.
- If you are not sure whether you have enough time to cross, don't take the chance – wait for the next signal.
Cycling to school safety tips
- Always wear your helmet and make sure it fits snuggly. By law in Ontario, anyone under the age of 18 is required to wear a helmet while cycling.
- Obey all road signs and follow the flow of traffic.
- Stay alert and keep your eyes on the road. Be aware of your surroundings and stay on the lookout for road hazards such as glass, sand and gravel.
- Know your hand signals to communicate with other motorists.
Motorist safety tips
- Do not drive distracted. Good drivers keep their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road.
- Watch out for pedestrians who may be walking against their signal.
- Be cautious when turning into any intersection and slow down on residential streets and school zones where children might be walking or playing.
- Stay alert, slow down and look out for children and pedestrians. Speed cameras are active to keep speeds low in areas where kids are more at risk.
- Use caution when approaching intersections, crosswalks and stopped transit buses.
School drop-off and pick-up zones
- Use drop-off and pick-up zones on designated school property – these are separate from school bus loading and unloading areas. Not all schools are designed with a drop-off and pick-up zone, please check with your child’s school for more information.
- Do not park or leave your vehicle unattended in the drop-off and pick-up zone. These zones are designed to ease congestion and keep traffic moving in the mornings and afternoons.
Report aggressive driving through York Regional Police’s Road Watch Program
Report aggressive driving behaviour (speeding, disobeying traffic lights and stop signs etc.) to York Regional Police's Road Watch Program at
yrp.ca/roadwatch. When submitting your report, you must include the licence plate of the vehicle and a description of what you saw and when/where you saw it happen. Please attach any photos or videos you may have. Contact
Crime Stoppers if you would like to make an anonymous complaint.
The Town of Newmarket continues to
implement transportation safety measures to slow down traffic while providing a safe and efficient environment for all. Be part of the solution. Keep your community safe by putting safety first. Do not speed, be aware of your surroundings, obey traffic rules, and be safe and responsible. Learn more about the Town's Traffic Management Safety program at
Newmarket.ca/SafetyDriven.
