The Quinte Region Traffic Coalition (QRTC) wants to encourage drivers and school communities to work together to ensure that children are safe to actively travel to and from school. Safe driving behaviours, such as obeying the posted 40 km/h speed limits and avoiding distractions, will help keep everyone safe in school zones.

The QRTC has received funding from the Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO) to provide information about active transportation and safety in school zones in support of the Active and Safe School Travel Charter developed by the Algonquin and Lakeshore Catholic District School Board (ALCDSB). The Charter advocates for safety enhancements and infrastructure to encourage modes of active travel around schools and provide education to school communities about the benefits of active transportation. The Active School Travel campaign includes temporary installation of road-side student silhouettes in five high-traffic school zones, and promotion of active school travel information. For this pilot project, the silhouettes will be installed in the City of Belleville and City of Quinte West, and plans are underway to seek funding to expand the project to more schools and municipalities in the future.

The life-size student silhouettes will serve as a visual reminder for drivers to slow down when travelling through school zones or dropping off and picking up students. By launching this campaign, the QRTC is increasing awareness of safe driving habits in school zones. When drivers slow down and pay attention, school zones are safer for all individuals using active transportation.

Active transportation is any activity that uses human power to travel to or from a destination. This can include walking, cycling, rollerblading, using non-motorized mobility devices, and more. By using active transportation, children are more likely to reach the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology’s recommended 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per day. However, according to ParticipACTION​, only 28% of children and youth aged five to 17 are currently meeting this target. By walking or rolling to school, children will get to know their community and neighbours, improve their physical health, mental health, academic performance, and boost brain development, making them ready for a day of learning. Active transportation also reduces traffic congestion around school zones and local air pollution.

Hastings Prince Edward Public Health (HPEPH) will be sharing posts on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, on behalf of the QRTC, during the months of April and May. The QRTC is asking the public to help spread these messages by encouraging family and friends to use active school travel and by sharing, liking, re-tweeting, and engaging with the #activeschooltravel posts.
To view and download our active school travel fact sheet, please visit: Active School Zone Fact Sheet.

For any additional information about active transportation please visit: https://www.hpepublichealth.ca/active-transportation/.

Maureen Hyland, Communications Specialist
hyland.maureen@hpeph.ca
Jessica Klein, Communications Specialist
jklein@hpeph.ca

About the QRTC
The Quinte Region Traffic Coalition is a partnership of Hastings Prince Edward Public Health, Bancroft, Central Hastings, Lennox and Addington County, Prince Edward County, and Quinte West OPP Detachments. The QRTC aims to reduce the number of incidents resulting in injuries and deaths on roads, trails, and waterways in Hastings and Prince Edward Counties.

About Hastings Prince Edward Public Health
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health (HPEPH) is a public health agency that serves the counties of Hastings and Prince Edward from four local offices. HPEPH is situated and provides services on the traditional territory of the Anishinaabe, Huron-Wendat and Haudenosaunee people. We monitor the health of our local population, deliver programs and services within our communities, and help develop healthy public policies. We provide information and support in many areas to help improve the health and well-being of our residents. Together with our communities, we help people become as healthy as they can be. For more information, please visit hpePublicHealth.ca. You can also find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and Instagram.