Back to School: Slow Down & Keep Our Kids Safe
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
School's back, which means more children and families are walking, wheeling, cycling, and driving near schools. Kids deserve to get to and from school safely - and the choices drivers make behind the wheel play a big part in that.
Plan for extra time, slow down, and stay focused. In playground zones, the speed limit is 30 km/h every day from 7:30 am to 9 pm, and passing another vehicle or a person cycling isn't allowed during those hours. Small decisions - putting distractions away, scanning ahead, and being ready to stop - can directly affect the safety of the children around you.
If you're dropping off or picking up, follow your school's procedures, obey posted signs, and keep crossings clear. Avoid double parking, bus zones, crosswalks, and driveways. Where you can, consider parking farther away, carpooling, or walking or cycling part of the way to help ease congestion around school sites.
School Safety Upgrades
With students back in class and school zones getting busier, The City of Calgary has completed safety upgrades at 50 schools across the city in 2026 to help make daily commutes safer for children and families.
The work includes proven safety measures like curb extensions and Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFBs). Curb extensions shorten crossing distances and make pedestrians more visible to approaching drivers, reducing collisions by an estimated 30–45%. RRFBs improve drivers' yielding compliance, cutting collisions by another 30–40%. Combined, these treatments can reduce collisions at an intersection by 70–80%.
This work supports Vision Zero and reflects the City's continued partnership with the Calgary Police Service to make streets safer and save lives. Education, enforcement, and street improvements work together to reduce vehicle speeds, increase driver awareness, and create a more predictable environment for everyone.
Safety Improvements in Ward 3
Three school sites in Ward 3 were included in this season's safety upgrades:
Simons Valley School | Speed cushions & temporary curb extensions |
Coventry Hills School | Speed cushions |
Hidden Valley School | Speed cushions, permanent curb extensions & RRFB (Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon) |
Most of this work is already complete. The remaining piece - permanent curb extensions at Hidden Valley School - are currently underway at both intersections along Hidden Valley Dr NW at Hidden Ranch Cres NW and at Hidden Ridge View NW. This work is expected to finish later in September.
The City is working closely with school administrators and bussing services to minimize disruption during drop-off and pick-up times. Crews will avoid construction during busy periods and are restricting weekday work to 9 am – 3 pm.
2026 Speed Hump Pilot
Alongside these pedestrian-focused upgrades, a speed hump and speed cushion pilot launched at 17 schools across Calgary in 2026, aimed at slowing traffic in playground zones and residential areas where children are most likely to be present.
Three Ward 3 school areas were selected for the pilot:
Simons Valley & Monsignor Neville Anderson School
Coventry Hills & St. Claire School
Hidden Valley & Valley Creek School
Park Safely & Legally
Parking behaviour is also a key part of playground zone safety. Through the School Patrol Program, Parking Safety and Compliance officers support safer drop-off and pick-up times by educating drivers, encouraging voluntary compliance, and addressing unsafe parking that can block sightlines or create risk for children and other road users.
Look Out for Each Other
As the school year begins, drivers are reminded to slow down, stay alert, and watch for children near schools, playgrounds, and residential streets. Parents and caregivers can help too - review safe travel routes with your kids, and build in extra time for trips during the busy first weeks of school.
The simple choices we make behind the wheel - slowing down, staying focused, parking safely, and keeping crossings clear - make a real difference. Kids deserve to get to and from school safely. Their lives are in your hands.
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