It would appear that more parents are concerned about traffic congestion in school zones.
Eight out of ten parents told the Canadian Automobile Association South Central Ontario they were worried about excessive traffic while dropping off their kids at school and picking them up. The numbers are up from last year.
"Every parent wants to see their child get to school safely, and an increase in vehicle traffic in these areas can pose a serious safety risk," said Manager of Government Relations Lauren Fisher. "Our survey reveals that parents are choosing to drive their kids to school because of the distance between home and school, convenience, and traffic safety concerns."
The survey also showed that 83 per cent of parents have witnessed unsafe driving behaviours in school zones, an increase of three per cent from last year, and 63 per cent believe their child's school zone is unsafe, a climb of 55 per cent since 2023.
Most said they were in favour of lowering the speed limit in school zones, with nearly half suggesting an appropriate limit would be 30 km/h.
The Canadian Automobile Association also has tips to ensure your child's trip to school is safe, including encouraging your kids to walk to school to reduce traffic in school zones, choosing a safe place to drop off and pick up your children, and making eye contact with pedestrians while driving. It also reminds drivers that passing a stopped school bus when its lights are flashing is illegal in Ontario.
The CAA surveyed 1,511 parents in May.