With September upon us, families are back in the throes of managing the return to school, deciding on safe options for travel between home and school, and navigating school zones and drop-off areas. Children walking, biking, and riding mean drivers must bring renewed focus and patience. Road safety is not seasonal. It requires constant attention.
In fact, recent TIRF research, conducted in collaboration with the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), highlights the importance of vigilance. From 2007 to 2021, Canada sustained a decline in fatalities while U.S. numbers rose. Stronger laws and enforcement, particularly on distracted driving, seatbelt use, and speeding, along with education efforts, appears to have helped create safer conditions for pedestrians and cyclists, including children.
Still, risks remain. Pedestrian and cyclist fatalities, speeding, impairment, and crashes caused by other risky behaviours continue to claim lives. For children travelling to and from school, these risks are amplified by their vulnerability and unpredictability. Whether we are parents in drop-off zones, commuters passing through school zones, or students walking, biking or scooting, each of us has a role in protecting the most vulnerable.
As children return to school, let us recommit to simple actions: slowing down, respecting crossing guards, avoiding distractions, stopping for school buses, being aware of vehicle blind spots, and exercising patience. These behaviours reflect the very measures that have helped Canada make progress. We can protect this progress and achieve further gains through our choices every day.
At TIRF, our work with communities and schools through programs like Action2Zero and the Youth Advisor Program keeps safety education alive. Combining strong laws with safe choices can ensure Canada’s roads remain places where children are protected and families feel secure.
Warmest regards,
Robyn Robertson
TIRF President & CEO
To access the full TIRF Summer 2025 Bulletin Volume 27, Issue 3, visit: https://tirf.ca/bulletins
