With the school year just around the corner, the Town of Newmarket is reminding everyone to make safety a priority. Whether walking, cycling, driving or riding the bus, students and families should take extra care when travelling to and from school areas. Parents and guardians are encouraged to review important safety tips with their children before the first day of classes.
Drivers should also be prepared for increased activity on local roads and sidewalks as students return to school. Extra caution is encouraged in school zones and near crosswalks where pedestrian and cyclist traffic may be higher during morning and afternoon travel times.
The Town of Newmarket will also be refreshing pavement markings at various locations across the community to help improve road safety and visibility. This work includes repainting features such as centrelines, crosswalks and other roadway markings to support safer travel for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians, particularly ahead of the busy back-to-school season. Learn more at newmarket.ca.
“This summer, traffic safety improvements were made across the community to some Community Safety Zones to enhance safety and guide motorists and pedestrians,” says Mayor John Taylor. “As students head back to class, we encourage everyone to do their part to help keep our roads and sidewalks safe. Extra patience and awareness can go a long way in keeping students safe and ensuring they arrive at school and home safe each day.”
Remember 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 help to 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 follow the pedestrian signals when crossing the street, not the traffic lights.
- Be alert, pay attention to your surroundings and avoid using mobile devices 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.
Check out the Pedestrian Safety video to learn more!
How to Use a Pedestrian Crossover
- Students and families using the pedestrian crossover at Gorham Street and Muriel Street are reminded to cross only when it is safe to do so and to follow the direction of the crossing guard. Drivers must stop for pedestrians who are waiting to cross or are already crossing at a pedestrian crossover and remain stopped until they have fully crossed the roadway. Failure to comply may result in fines of up to $1,000 and four demerit points.
Learn more by viewing the video on how to use a pedestrian crossover.
Bicycle and scooter safety tips
- You must be at least 16 years old to ride an electric scooter.
- Always wear your helmet and make sure it fits snugly. By law in Ontario, anyone under the age of 18 is required to wear a helmet while cycling or when travelling on a scooter.
- Electric scooters must have two wheels with breaks, have an electric motor no more than 500 watts and a maximum speed of 24km/hr.
- 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 hazards such as glass, sand, gravel and other cars.
- Know your hand signals to communicate with other motorists.
- Be cautious and travel at safe speeds.
Check out the Cycling Safety video to learn more! See York Regional Police’s website for more information on e-scooter and e-bike safety tips.
Motorist safety tips
- Do not drive distracted. Good drivers keep their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road. Never text, email, browse social media or watch videos while driving.
- Watch out for pedestrians who may be walking against their signal.
- Be cautious when turning into any intersection and slow down in residential streets and school zones where children might be walking or playing.
- Be alert and 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.