{"id":10910,"date":"2018-03-19T15:57:17","date_gmt":"2018-03-19T19:57:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mileniostadium.com\/?p=10910"},"modified":"2018-03-19T15:57:17","modified_gmt":"2018-03-19T19:57:17","slug":"city-launches-slow-down-toronto-campaign-as-part-of-effort-to-improve-school-zone-safety","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mileniostadium.com\/local\/gta\/city-launches-slow-down-toronto-campaign-as-part-of-effort-to-improve-school-zone-safety\/","title":{"rendered":"City launches \u2018slow down Toronto\u2019 campaign as part of effort to improve school zone safety"},"content":{"rendered":"

As many kids head back to school following March break, police and city officials are launching a campaign to try and keep kids safer when heading to and from school.<\/p>\n

The \u201cSlow Down Toronto\u201d campaign runs from today through April 1 and will target offences that tend to lead to road incidents that result in deaths or serious injury, such as speeding, distracted driving, and aggressive driving. The campaign will especially focus on school zones and areas where there have been a high number of collisions.<\/p>\n

\u201cChange to driver behavior will be the single biggest contributor to improved safety in school zones,\u201d Mayor John Tory said at the campaign launch at Cornell Junior Public School in Scarborough Monday. \u201cI don\u2019t know what it\u2019s going to take for people to get the fact that it is their behavior behind the wheel of the car that is going to have more to do with improving the safety situation than will signs and zebra stripes and technology \u2013 all of which we\u2019re going to employ.\u201d<\/p>\n

He added that people need to become sensitive to the fact that \u201cthere are children and people who are not protected by two tons of steel who are trying to get around the city.\u201d<\/p>\n

The two-week campaign announced today comes a few weeks after 11-year-old Duncan Xu was struck and killed by a vehicle near his school in Scarborough. His death prompted calls for tougher implementation of road safety measures around schools.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe safety of all pedestrians, but particularly children, must be a priority in this city,\u201d Tory said in a statement. \u201cOne pedestrian death is one too many. \u201cWe are working to prevent these deaths and protect our residents across the city. We all have a responsibility to share our streets in a courteous and safe way. I am committed to making sure all those who use our roads \u2013 pedestrians, cyclists and drivers \u2013 can get where they need to go as safely and efficiently as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n

The latest campaign is part of the city\u2019s \u201cVision Zero\u201d plan to reduce pedestrian injuries and fatalities.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese tragedies are unacceptable,\u201d Deputy Chief Peter Yuen said in a statement. \u201cToronto Police Service is committed to doing everything we can to make our roads safer. Over the next two weeks, officers will be paying special attention to drivers, pedestrians and cyclists who commit traffic violations that may jeopardize pedestrian safety in school zones.\u201d<\/p>\n

In addition to the two-week \u201cSlow Down Toronto\u201d campaign, the city said it is taking other measures to try and make roads safer around schools.<\/p>\n

They include a one-year pilot project to provide new flexible in-road traffic calming signs in 12 school zones across the city, and retrofitting 60 more schools than planned this year with the latest school zone safety features.<\/p>\n