CAA survey finds parents increasingly worried about school zone safety

Ontario parents say school zones are more congested and less safe than before, according to a recent survey by CAA South Central Ontario.

The poll found 81 per cent of parents report heavy traffic during morning drop-off, while 84 per cent see after-school congestion. Both numbers are up from last year.

“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,” says Lauren Fisher, manager of government and stakeholder relations.

CAA said 63 per cent of parents now consider their child’s school zone very unsafe, up from 55 per cent two years ago. Some schools in the surveyed region were found to lack designated drop-off areas.

The findings reported that driving behaviours such as double parking, speeding and stopping in the wrong areas were often to blame.

“Most parents are in favour of increasing safety precautions in school zones, including improved enforcement and penalties,” adds Fisher.

For CAA school zone safety tips, visit caasco.com/schoolzone.

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