Toronto School Zones: Crossing Guards and Road Safety
As Toronto schools return, the City is reminding drivers, cyclists and pedestrians to slow down and stay alert. Here’s how the school-zone safety program works and what to watch for.
In this update
What the City is reminding road users
The City of Toronto is asking everyone who uses the road to stay alert, obey the speed limit and watch for children in school zones as students return to class. The reminder applies to drivers, people cycling, pedestrians and anyone moving through a school-area crossing.
The message is part of Toronto’s Vision Zero Road Safety Plan, which uses lower speeds, better visibility and safer routes to reduce the risk of serious injuries. The City’s announcement is a citywide reminder rather than a live map of individual school conditions.
How Toronto school zones are marked
Toronto has more than 660 School Safety Zones, according to the City. These areas can include Watch Your Speed signs, pavement markings, flashing beacons and zebra markings at crosswalks so drivers know they are entering a place where children may be crossing.
A safety-zone sign is a cue to slow down and scan the whole crossing, including the sidewalk and curb. It does not tell you that a crossing guard is present at every hour, so follow the signs and the people directing the crossing in front of you.
Crossing guards and pedestrian head-start signals
The City says more than 950 trained crossing guards help students cross at intersections across Toronto. It also says more than 1,700 intersections have pedestrian head-start signals, which let people walking begin crossing before the vehicle signal turns green.
Those numbers describe the scale of Toronto’s program. They do not confirm that a particular school has a guard, a head-start signal or a change in operation today. Read the local signs and signals at the crossing you are using.
How to make a school route safer
Leave extra time for the first weeks of school, when more families, buses and people walking are using the same streets. Approach school zones slowly, keep your attention on the road and expect a child to move differently from an adult pedestrian.
The City says Toronto Police Service officers will focus education and enforcement on speeding, distracted and impaired driving, unsafe crossing behaviour and illegal parking around schools. The safest route is the one where every road user follows the signs and leaves room for the people most exposed to traffic.
Frequently asked questions
How many school crossing guards does Toronto have?
The City says more than 950 trained crossing guards work at intersections across Toronto.
What is a pedestrian head-start signal?
It lets pedestrians begin crossing before the vehicle signal turns green, improving visibility and reducing conflicts with turning vehicles.
Does every school crossing have a guard?
The City’s citywide figures do not establish whether an individual crossing has a guard. Follow the signs, signals and directions at the crossing you use.
Sources & useful links
The safety-program totals come from the City’s September 8 announcement. Local signs, signals and crossing directions take priority on the street.