Our community's youngest residents will soon be heading back to school, and local law enforcement is preparing to make sure they get there safely. The Peterborough County OPP and Peterborough Police Service are teaming up with the county for the 2026 Safe School Zone Campaign, bringing heightened traffic enforcement to areas surrounding schools throughout the region.
Officers will maintain a stronger presence in school zones starting next week, watching for violations and issuing citations when drivers put children at risk. The message is clear: getting students to and from school safely requires everyone's cooperation.
"We encourage all motorists to slow down, stay focused, and be mindful of the children, families, and school buses travelling throughout our communities," Peterborough County Warden Bonnie Clark told PtboCanada. "By planning ahead and exercising patience in school zones, we can create safer roads and support a positive start to the school year for everyone."
What Drivers Need to Know
With more children, school buses, cyclists and pedestrians on our roads, motorists should prepare for slower traffic and expect delays near schools. Authorities are reminding drivers of several critical rules:
When a school bus activates its flashing red overhead lights, drivers must come to a complete stop. On multi-lane undivided roads without a median or physical barrier, traffic in both directions must stop.
Speed limits in school zones aren't suggestions—they're the law. And violations carry extra weight in Community Safety Zones, where fines are doubled. Crossing guards have legal authority to halt traffic at crosswalks, and drivers cannot proceed until the guard has completely left the roadway.
Cyclists deserve space too. When passing someone on a bike, drivers must provide at least one metre of clearance.
Staff Sergeant Angie Kerr of the Peterborough County OPP emphasized the importance of awareness during the back-to-school period. "By encouraging motorists to respect posted speed limits, drive distraction-free, and stay alert for crossing guards and students, we can all play a role in ensuring a safe and successful return to school for every child," Kerr told PtboCanada.
September's Troubling Track Record
The timing of this campaign isn't arbitrary. Transport Canada data from 2017 identified September as the deadliest month for pedestrian fatalities across the country. Meanwhile, CAA polling conducted in 2019 revealed that speeding, illegal parking or stopping, and distracted driving ranked as the three most common dangerous behaviors witnessed in Canadian school zones.
Peterborough Police Service Chief Stuart Betts urged drivers to adjust their expectations and habits. "We expect motorists to be aware that more young people will be on and adjacent to our roadways, and that reduced speed limits and traffic calming measures exist in many Community Safety Zones," Betts told PtboCanada.
Planning Ahead Makes a Difference
Law enforcement officials are asking drivers to build extra time into their morning and afternoon routines. Rushing through school zones creates unnecessary risk for everyone—students walking to class, parents dropping off children, crossing guards directing traffic, and school staff managing arrival and dismissal.
The campaign emphasizes that road safety is a collective responsibility. By staying focused, eliminating distractions, and anticipating the unexpected, motorists can help ensure every child in our community arrives at school and returns home safely.
A few extra minutes of patience behind the wheel can make all the difference for Peterborough's families as the new school year begins.
