School zones

Overall, road safety calls for constant vigilance on the part of all road users, especially motorists. In school zones, traffic must be taken even more seriously! 

The continuous comings and goings of parents dropping off their children near the school, the presence of school transport, pedestrians and cyclists all converging on the school, as well as all the motorists crossing their path, are so many reasons to exercise extreme caution in the surroundings of these sensitive areas.

These observations were made in September 2021, between 7a.m. and 8:30a.m., by our road safety specialists near 10 elementary schools in 7 administrative regions of Quebec.

Authors of violations or dangerous actions observed and number of cases counted

• Parents (or accompanying adults): 372 (60%) 

• Other road users: 252 (40%)

For a total of 624 cases recorded. 

Type of violation or dangerous action observed and number of cases counted

• Speeding: 192 

• Failure to use turn signals (parents, bus drivers, other users): 111 

• Failure to obey road signs, instructions from adult safety patrollers, and rights-of-way: 75 

• Illegal cellphone use or texting at the wheel: 10 

• Inadequate safety of driver and passengers (seatbelts, child-restraint devices): 21 

• Driving with a child (under age 12) in the front seat: 36 

• Unsafe practices (in general): 45 

• Unsafe/unauthorized entry into a school parking lot, or stopping in an unsafe area close to the school: 37 

• Child crossing unsupervised or at an unsafe/unauthorized location: 20 

• Other inappropriate actions, such as getting out of the car in an unsafe area, driving off unsafely, disregard of bus signals, etc.: 65 

• Breach of rules by cycling student: 12 

For a total of 624 cases recorded. 

It is hard to imagine that in this day and age, motorists still drive in ways that seriously endanger not just their children but themselves.

Would you believe there are still drivers who ignore the flashing red lights and “Stop” sign on school buses that clearly indicate there are kids getting out? Unfortunately, it is still happening. 

And there’s no way parents would drop their kids off on the street near school without bringing their cars to a full stop, just so they can pull away faster. Right? Wrong. We actually saw a number of children standing, backpacks on, in the back seat of their parents’ car—while the car was still moving—waiting for the right time to open the door. 

Even more unbelievable, we also had reports of a school bus driver and two heavy truck drivers running red lights inside the school zone!