School Zones and Crossing Guards

Community safety and school zones are special sections of roads where the safety of children and citizens is a top priority. Traffic violations in these zones, such as speeding or running red lights, result in increased fines, often doubled. Find out about traffic rules in school zones, kiss-and-ride programs, and crossing guard information.

Community Safety Zone Fines Increased road sign, on a post next to a road with a school bus in the background.

How to identify a community safety zone

Community Safety Zones have clear regulatory signs to mark their boundaries. When you enter a zone, you’ll see a sign with a “Begins” tab, and when you leave, the sign will show an “Ends” tab. On longer roads, we post extra signs every 300 meters to remind drivers they are still in the zone.

Community safety zone locations

There are designated Community Safety Zones on parts of the following roads:

Dorchester Road
Drummond Road
Dunn Street
Kalar Road
Lundy's Lane (Regional Road 20) between Kalar Road and Montrose Road (Regional Road 98)
Lundy's Lane (Regional Road 20) between Brookfield Avenue and Main Street
McLeod Road (Regional Road 49) between Oakwood Drive and Drummond Road
McLeod Road, between Kalar Road and Garner Road
Montrose Road (Regional Road 98) between Watson Street and Lundy's Lane (Regional Road 20)
Morrison Street
O'Neil Street
Portage Road
Valley Way

Safety reminders

Before and after school, heavy traffic can cause congestion, unsafe driving maneuvers, illegal parking, and dangerous situations for children, such as crossing between vehicles or streets without assistance.

We know you want to get your children to school safely.

Please always prioritize safety over convenience. Check out the Safety Before Convenience poster . Let’s work together to keep school zones safe for everyone!

Do not stop or park in "No Stopping Zones": These areas are clearly marked near schools to make sure buses and students can move safely
Follow the signs: There are signs posted at the front of schools to guide you. Please make sure you are not stopping or parking in bus loading zones.
Ticket warnings: During the first week of school, we will give out notices to drivers who stop or park in these areas. After that week, any vehicles stopped or parked illegally will be ticketed.

Traffic fines

No Stopping: This means you cannot stop your vehicle, even for a moment, in a “No Stopping” zone. The only exceptions are when needed to avoid a traffic hazard or follow police or traffic signals.
No Parking: You cannot park your vehicle in a "No Parking" zone, even if you're only stopping briefly to let passengers out
Drive-offs: If you leave after breaking the rules while an officer is issuing a ticket, the fine, along with extra fees, will be mailed to the registered owner
Crosswalks, school crossings and crossovers: If you endanger pedestrians by failing to yield at these locations or if you fail to stop for a school bus, you are guilty of an offence and could pay a fine and lose demerit points. These fines are doubled in Community Safety Zones. Learn more on our Pedestrian Crossovers page.

Fines and Penalties Penalties for endangering pedestrians

Kiss & Ride program

The Kiss & Ride program helps keep children safe during busy drop-off and pick-up times at schools. This program manages traffic in school zones to reduce risks caused by congestion and unsafe driving behaviours.

How does the Kiss & Ride program work?

The Kiss & Ride program creates a supervised, organized environment for dropping off and picking up children. Schools designate specific areas for quick stops where parents can safely drop off or pick up their kids without leaving their vehicles. Here’s how it works:

Designated zones: Clearly marked with signs, cones, and pavement markings
Quick stops: Parents pull into the designated area and stop only long enough for children to enter or exit the vehicle
No parking: Parking or stopping for more than one minute is not allowed
Volunteers assist: Volunteers wearing bright orange safety vests help children safely get in and out of vehicles

Tailored solutions for each school

Every school is different. Schools with circular driveways, single access points, or parking lots can implement Kiss & Ride zones with adjustments to fit their layouts. The program’s success depends on the school’s commitment and the support of dedicated volunteers.

For more information about the Kiss & Ride Program, please call 905-356-7521 ext. 4211.

City of Niagara Falls crossing guard working at the crosswalk at Valley Way Public School

School crossing guards

School crossing guards are important in keeping kids safe on their way to and from school. They help students cross busy streets, teach good road safety habits, and make our neighbourhoods safer.

Crossing guards use whistles to help pedestrians and drivers stay safe. Here's how it works:

When you hear the whistle, pay attention. The guard will make sure traffic stops.
When it's safe to cross, the guard will blow the whistle once (if there's a stop sign or light) or twice (if there isn’t)

Find a crossing guard location

Plan a safe route! View our map that shows the crossing locations and times for school zones. These times may change, so be sure to check back for updates!

View the crossing guard map

BLUE the Butterfly educational program for kids

This exciting program teaches students about road safety. BLUE the Butterfly will visit local schools to talk about walking, biking, and crossing streets safely. Look out for BLUE in your school!