School zone near-misses underscore need for safer roads

CAA North & East Ontario (CAA NEO) is calling on drivers and communities across Northern and Eastern Ontario to make school -zone safety a priority after new CAA-commissioned research found an average of 4.5 pedestrian–vehicle near misses in school zone intersections. 

The first-of-its-kind study, conducted by Miovision and Fireseeds North, used video cameras and artificial intelligence analysis to monitor 30 school zones in 11 Canadian cities, including Ottawa, over five school days. Researchers recorded 660 near misses, with one in every 84 crossing pedestrians involved in a near collision with a vehicle. These are findings across the study sites, not an Ottawa-specific or regional near-miss rate. 

“A trip to school should not involve a close call with a vehicle,” said Julie Beun, Managing Director, Communications and Public Relations, CAA North & East Ontario.  

“For drivers across Northern and Eastern Ontario, the message is simple: slow down, put distractions away and give every crossing your full attention. Safer school zones require both attentive driving and road design that puts people’s safety first.” 

Ottawa’s road -safety warning adds urgency 

The findings come amid heightened concern about pedestrian safety in Ottawa. Ottawa Police statistics for 2026 show 32 traffic-related deaths across all road users in 23 collisions. 

“The loss of life on Ottawa’s roads is a call to action, a pattern more than a series of one-off events,” said Beun.  

“Our distracted-driving campaigns and our recent Slow Down, Move Over campaign promoting roadside safety for emergency vehicles share a fundamental message: pay attention to the people outside your vehicle. Whether someone is crossing near a school or helping a stranded driver at the roadside, they deserve the space and care to get home safely.” 

CAA’s distracted driving campaigns, including #BeforeYouDrive and #UnplugAndDrive, encourage motorists to deal with potential interruptions before setting off and to put their phones away while driving.  

CAA NEO’s Slow Down, Move Over outreach in October 2026 reinforced the importance of reducing speed and, when safe,  giving extra space to stopped tow trucks and emergency vehicles displaying flashing lights. School-zone safety is another essential part of that road-safety focus. 

Safer crossings matter beyond the school bell 

The study points to the importance of crossing design and traffic controls. Among the school-zone crossings studied: 

• Crosswalks incorporating a traffic signal, stop light or roundabout had a near-miss rate 20 times lower than those without these features. 

• Crossings without school -zone or reduced-speed-zone signage had a 67% higher overall conflict rate than those with it. 

• Zebra markings were associated with 56% fewer left- and right-turn near misses. 

• Near misses were more than twice as likely when vehicles were exiting intersections as when entering them. 

The busiest single hour for incidents was 5 to 6 p.m., when researchers recorded 94 incidents. The finding reinforces the need to consider safety beyond school arrival and dismissal times, when playgrounds, fields and school buildings continue to draw people into the neighbourhood.