The Town of Georgina is dedicated to making streets safer and more accessible for everyone. The Safe Streets for Safe Use initiative focuses on four main areas: community, education, enforcement and engineering.
Back to school safety
As students return to class, streets and bus routes will be busier than usual. Keep these practical guidelines in mind to help families, students, and drivers stay safe as school returns.
For students: Staying safe on your way to school
Being aware of surroundings and following a few essential rules can make every trip safer.
- Always follow instructions from crossing guards.
- Look both ways before crossing the street and always use crosswalks or controlled intersections.
- Stay alert. Put headphones or mobile devices away while crossing the street.
- Arrive at your bus stop early and stand back from the curb while waiting for the bus.
For drivers: Sharing the road responsibly
Extra caution keeps students and pedestrians safe near schools and along bus routes.
- Watch for students and pedestrians, especially in school and Community Safety Zones. Always yield to pedestrians at pedestrian crossovers, school crossings, and crosswalks.
- Follow posted speed limits and road signs. Reminder the speed limit in Community Safety Zones range from 30-40km/hr.
- Always stop when a crossing guard displays a stop sign and remain stopped until everyone has safely crossed. Visit the Crossing Guard page for more information.
- Stop for school buses with red lights flashing and do not proceed until lights are off and the bus is moving.
- Plan for increased traffic when school starts and allow extra time to reach your destination.
- Be alert to active construction areas and follow any temporary signage.
- Automated Speed Enforcement cameras are active in school areas and Community Safety Zones to help keep roads safe. Learn more about Automated Speed Enforcement on York Region Roads and the Town of Georgina’s Safe Streets Monitoring Program.
For more information, visit the Government of Ontario’s Highway Traffic Act.
E-bikes and e-scooters: Ride with care
More riders are using e-bikes and e-scooters on local roads and pathways. Safe riding helps protect both riders and pedestrians.
- Follow the rules of the road and obey all traffic signs and signals.
- Yield to pedestrians on shared paths and dismount when required.
- Wear a helmet and use lights or reflectors to stay visible.
- Do not ride on sidewalks. Use bike lanes or the roadway where permitted.
- Slow down in Community Safety Zones and near schools.
Planning ahead
A little preparation can make morning routines easier for everyone.
- Allow extra travel time, especially during the first weeks of school.
- Check the Disruptions and Closures page to learn about any detours that may affect your route. Expect more traffic near schools and slower commute times in construction areas.
- Confirm your child’s bus route and pickup spot before school starts. Visit the Student Transportation Services of York Region website for more information about school bus routes.
Traffic Calming Map
View the Traffic Calming Map to view various traffic calming measures around the Town. Explore more interactive maps by visiting the Navigate Georgina hub.
Rogers TV - Safe Streets for Safe Use
Community
The Town works with residents to enhance street safety. This includes setting up Community Safety Zones and promoting programs such as Road Watch, which helps report aggressive driving. These efforts aim to cut down on accidents and make streets safer for all users.
Community Safety Zones
Community Safety Zones are sections of streets or roads that have a special concern for public safety. They are marked with signs and range from 500 metres to 2.5 kilometres. These zones help the Town implement measures to reduce vehicle speeds and increase driver awareness. The Town regularly reviews data from these zones and implements additional traffic calming measures where current signage is not proving to be effective to slow traffic. All community safety zone have a speed limit that does not exceed 40km/hr.
Georgina Safe and Active Transportation Advisory Committee
The Georgina Safe and Active Transportation Advisory Committee (GSATAC) advises the Town on how to improve street safety. It includes two Council members, a York Regional Police representative, a member from the Georgina Trail Riders Snowmobile Club and three local residents. The committee helps make decisions based on community feedback and expert advice.
Road Watch
Road Watch allows residents to report unsafe driving or illegal behaviour. By working with York Regional Police and the Ontario Ministry of Transportation, the program helps keep roads safer. Even if you only have a licence plate number, you can report issues such as speeding or running red lights through the York Regional Police – Road Watch Program webpage.
Education
The Town believes in educating residents about street safety. This includes sharing information through the website, social media and school programs. By raising awareness, the Town encourages everyone to be involved in making our streets safer.
Enforcement
Traffic laws are enforced to maintain road safety. This includes police presence, bylaw enforcement and speed checks. These measures help manage traffic and support long-term improvements in road infrastructure and community safety.
Traffic bylaws
Bylaw 2023-0087 governs vehicle parking and traffic rules in Georgina. It covers where parking is allowed, winter restrictions, and rules for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians. This bylaw ensures that traffic violations are handled fairly and helps keep our roads safe.
Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE)
Automated Speed Enforcement uses cameras to monitor and ticket speeding vehicles. This technology, used in Community Safety Zones, helps ensure drivers follow speed limits and reduces speeding-related accidents. Supported by York Regional Police, ASE provides continuous speed enforcement without needing constant police presence.
Learn more about the Town's Safe Street Monitoring Program and get answers to frequently asked questions.
Engineering
The Town focuses on designing and constructing a safer roadway network, based on public input and required need. The guidelines from the Transportation Association of Canada (TAC) are used to ensure that traffic calming implementations are inline with a street's particular needs. Implementation can be a combination of a variety of measure from by-lawed speed limit reduction to line markings of the street.
Speed limit reduction
Speed limit reduction involves lowering the maximum allowable speed on specific roadways and streets with the overall goal of improving safety. Speed limit reduction is deemed necessary on streets with high traffic volumes, pedestrian activity or hazardous road conditions.
When a new speed limit is established, changes are marked with updated signage to keep motorists informed and ensure compliance. Adjustments are typically part of a broader traffic calming strategy aimed at creating safer environment.
Traffic calming installations
Traffic calming measures are designed to slow down vehicles and improve safety in busy and residential areas. The process includes screening areas, conducting public surveys, reviewing traffic data and implementing changes. After the changes are put in place, the Town monitors their effectiveness and makes adjustments as needed.
The Safe Streets for Safe Use initiative uses a systematic approach to address traffic safety. By following procedures such as screening, public surveys, data collection and implementing traffic-calming measures, the Town ensures that its interventions are effective and supported by the community. This ongoing effort aims to make roads safer for everyone and improves the overall safety of the community.