With the start of a new school year, Bramptonians will be seeing increased vehicle, bike and pedestrian traffic across the city. Walking or ‘rolling’ to school is a great option for families, as active transportation promotes physical and mental wellbeing, reduces traffic congestion and helps reduce air pollution.
Everyone has a responsibility to keep Brampton’s streets and sidewalks safe!
As students brush up on their “ABCs” this fall, the City wants drivers to do the same:
• Be
alert when driving in school zones. Be mindful of all crosswalks, "No Parking" and "No Stopping" signs. Watch for children crossing at all points along your route.
• Do not
block a school’s fire route, even for a few seconds. In an emergency, those precious seconds can make all the difference for first responders.
• Watch for
crossing guards. The stop signs they are holding have the same legal authority as a fixed stop sign at an intersection.
When stopping for a crossing guard, drivers are reminded that they must remain stopped until the guard and children have finished crossing the entire roadway. Breaking this law could result in three demerit points, increased insurance rates and a fine of up to $500. It could also cause serious injury to crossing guards, children or other pedestrians.
Community Safety Zones Community Safety Zones are sections of roadway where public safety is of special concern. Community Safety Zones may include roadways near schools, day care centres, playgrounds, parks, hospitals, and senior citizen residences.
On July 8, City Council unanimously approved the implementation of Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) throughout 200 Community Safety Zone locations annually to reduce speeding and traffic-related incidents and enhance road safety for all users in Brampton, especially the most vulnerable – like children.
ASE, an automated system that uses a camera and a speed measurement device to enforce speed limits, is a speed enforcement tool that uses technology to help make roads safer for all users. The City will be completing the installation of its first five ASE cameras in Community Safety Zones across Brampton this September.
The ASE Program supports Brampton’s Healthy and Safe City: Streets for People Term of Council Priority, which incorporates elements of Vision Zero, a regional plan that aims to increase road safety through changes to road design, maintenance and operation, and increased public awareness.
Cycling safetyThe City is building a network of well-connected bike lanes and recreational trails that make travel by bike a safe and desirable option for work, recreation and school trips. Cyclists must do their part to keep Brampton streets, sidewalks and trails safe. Some important safety tips include:
• Wear a helmet – it could save your life.
• Obey all traffic laws, signs and signals
• Use hand signals
• Yield to pedestrians
Cyclists are also reminded that under the City’s Traffic By-law, only bicycles with wheels less than 50 centimetres (20 inches) are permitted on sidewalks. Wheels of this size are typical of children’s bikes.
For more information on cycling in Brampton and safety tips visit
www.brampton.ca/cycling
