Hastings Prince Edward Public Health is involved, along with community partners, in several road safety initiatives aimed at reducing injuries and deaths in our community due to motor vehicle collisions. School communities are a great way to promote the well-being of students by raising awareness of road and off-road safety, and strategies to prevent injuries. Topics include impaired driving, cycling, helmet safety and other road safety issues.
Using the Ministry of Education’s Foundations for a Healthy School framework, schools, school boards, parents and community partners can work together to develop healthy school environments that promote and support student well-being. Information below has been organized following this framework.
Curriculum, Teaching and Learning
This library of resources program offers activities, challenges, downloadable lesson plans, presentations, videos and our RoadSMARTS E-cademy virtual courses, that make learning important road safety concepts, skills and awareness fun and engaging elementary age children. They are free, easy to use and cover Ministry of Education curriculum requirements for a variety of topics such as cycling, walking, preparing to walk alone somewhere for the first time, and sharing the road.
Parachute Canada (road and off-road safety resources) (Grades 1 – 8)
This website provides excellent background information, key messages and resources that can be used when teaching students about road safety. Topics include: pedestrian safety, cycling safety, Halloween safety, rail safety and all-terrain vehicle safety.
Parachute Canada – Helmet Safety (Grades 1 – 4)
This website contains information about helmets for bicycles, skate boarding, scooter riding and inline skating, along with other safety tips. A video on how to properly fit and wear a bicycle helmet using the “2V1 Rule” provides an excellent teaching tool for students.
Young Cyclist’s Guide (Grades 4 – 8)
This guide has information about bicycle equipment, riding tips and the rules of the road to keep you safe while cycling.
Cycling Skills (Grades 9 – 12)
Whether you’re new to cycling, or you are an experienced cyclist, this guide contains important information, tips and techniques to make you a safe, confident rider.
The High Way Home? (Grades 10-12)
This interactive website, developed by the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA), guides users through real-life scenarios where they must make decisions about cannabis use and driving. Youth focus groups were consulted in the planning stages of the website development and content addresses key findings from research conducted by CCSA on Canadian youth perceptions on cannabis.
School and Classroom Leadership
Raise awareness among parents/families and staff about the importance of role modeling appropriate safety practices (e.g. wearing a helmet and other protective equipment, following traffic signals when riding a bike, not using cell phones while driving, etc.).
Student Engagement
National Teen Driver Safety Week (October)
Support students in planning a school-wide campaign. Community toolkits help you implement activities and include evidence-based backgrounder and key messages, tip sheet, social media guide, and more.
Bike to School Week (May)
An inspiring initiative among local schools, school boards and community partners to encourage students to “walk and roll” to school.
International Walk to School Month (IWALK) (October)
Hundreds of Ontario schools participate in IWALK each year. Check out the IWALK resources to help kick start IWALK events in your school community.
Social and Physical Environments
Active and Safe Routes to School
Create an active and safe route to school (neighbourhood walkabout, student transportation survey).
Implement the Elementary Road Safety program to make your school communities safer. The program provides you with the tools to tackle and address school zone safety issues in your community.
