Back to School: Please Drive With Care

School starts tomorrow, Tuesday, September 8, for regular-calendar schools across Durham Region.

That means more kids walking, biking, crossing streets, getting on buses, and being dropped off near our schools.

This weekend, my volunteers and I went door to door on streets leading toward four Ward 4 elementary schools. With residents who wanted to take part, we placed Drive With Care and Drive Safely lawn signs as a simple reminder for drivers.

We did it because children’s safety matters.

A few extra seconds of patience can make a real difference. Please:

  • Slow down and watch carefully in school zones and neighbourhood streets
  • Please put your phone away while driving
  • Expect children to cross unexpectedly, especially in the morning and afternoon
  • Slow down and prepare to stop when a school bus flashes its amber lights
  • Stop and wait when a school bus has its red lights flashing or its stop arm out

Let’s help kids get to school, get home, and enjoy the start of a new school year safely.

Please remember to drive with care as school starts.

Read Ontario’s school-bus safety rules
Durham District School Board 2026-2027 key dates
Durham Catholic District School Board 2026-2027 calendar