School Zone & Playground Zone Safety

Supporting our Kids on the Journey to School: A CAA School Travel Study

On June 15, 2022, CAA released Supporting our Kids on the Journey to School: A CAA School Travel Study. The report, the first-of-its-kind in Canada, lays out best practices in school zone travel policies with the aim of keeping kids safer on their journey to school. Every day, millions of Canadian families make a journey to and from school. Evidence suggests school zones remain unsafe for many - with nearly 30% of drivers reporting they have witnessed a near miss or collision in a school zone. Findings for Saskatchewan, the remaining provinces and territories can be found here.

CAA School Zone Safety Assessment

The CAA School Zone Safety Assessment program is owned and managed by CAA Saskatchewan. This assessment tool allows schools and communities to track the identified risk behaviours of motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians in their school zone or community. By tracking these at-risk behaviours, stakeholders are able to identify key safety problems in school zones or community areas such as parks, playgrounds and recreation centres. The tabulated results can help implement change and improvement.

We all must take responsibility to help keep our children safe in school zones and near community playgrounds and parks. According to a recent CAA School Zone Safety Assessment conducted in October 2021, completing U-turns, illegally parking, or parking in a no-stopping area in a school zone were some of the top hazardous driving behaviours. The top risky pedestrian behaviours were jaywalking and failing to look both ways when crossing the street.

See the full results of the CAA School Zone Safety Assessments:

“St. Gregory appreciated the support that we received from CAA Saskatchewan,” said Leanne Forrest, the Principal from St. Gregory School. “The School Zone Safety Assessment provided valuable information for us to educate and support safe arrival and dismissal for our staff, students, and parents.”

To learn more about the CAA School Zone Safety Assessment, contact schoolzonesafety@caask.ca. To request a CAA School Zone Safety Assessment in your community, please complete Request an Assessment form.

Request an Assessment  

Complete the form below to inquire about conducting a CAA School Zone Safety Assessment in your school community. We will contact you with further details and information.

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School Zone Safety

The safety of our children and all road users is a priority for CAA Saskatchewan. Learn more about our CAA School Zone Assessments and request to conduct one in your community.

Through CAA’s School Safety Patrol® program student patrollers have been helping their classmates safely cross streets and learning more about pedestrian safety in Saskatchewan since 1951.

CAA has helpful tips and safety advice for students, parents and motorists to ensure everyone’s safety in school zones.

Download the CAA Safety Colouring Booklet (for School Zones & Playground Zones) and the CAA Family Safety Booklet for fun activities and information about bike safety, bike maintenance, safety tips for school zones and playground zones, and the CAA School Safety Patrol® Program. Complimentary copies of the booklet are available at all CAA Stores and the CAA Car Care Centre at Regina Battery Depot.

Students & Pedestrians

  • Stop, look both ways, listen and think before safely crossing streets and busy intersections.
  • Follow traffic signs and signals. Only cross at designated locations or crosswalks. Do not jaywalk.
  • Never run out in traffic or between parked cars, buses, or buildings.
  • Keep your head up and be aware of your surroundings. Make eye contact with the drivers before proceeding into the intersection.
  • Refrain from visiting with friends when you are at an intersection ready to cross.
  • Eliminate distractions such as using your headphones and electronic devices for texting, listening to music, social media, or gaming.
  • Watch for CAA School Safety Patrollers on duty and follow their instructions.

Parents & Guardians

  • Teach children about the rules of the road – always stop, look both ways, listen and think before safely crossing the street.
  • Plan your child’s walking route to and from school and walk with them to better familiarize themselves with the school and surrounding area. Parents and caregivers to be sure to point out crosswalks, stop signs, landmarks, and family or friends’ homes.
  • Always have an older student or adult walk with younger children.
  • Good walking gear is important including comfortable shoes with traction.
  • Obey the “no stopping” zones in front of schools.
  • Know your route and talk with the school administrator in advance to determine drop off, pick-up, no stopping, and parking zones. Use the designated drop off and pickup areas only.
  • Park a couple of blocks away to avoid traffic congestion and safely walk the rest of the way with your children. Don’t park illegally.

Motorists

  • Observe and obey the posted speed limits and hours that the speed limits are enforced.
  • Slow down in school zones; remain alert when driving near playgrounds and parks.
  • Avoid distracted driving and focus on the road. Drivers who text are 23 times more likely to be involved in a crash or near collision than non-distracted drivers.
  • Be aware of the CAA School Safety Patrollers on duty during school days and follow their instructions.
  • Watch for school buses. Always stop for the buses’ flashing lights and wait for children to get safely on or off.
  • Stay alert and watch for children or parents crossing the road when the bus moves on.
  • Watch for excited children, as they may no be thinking about road safety.