“Project Safe Start” to Run for Back-to-School Week

With Back-To-School week approaching, the Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) is reminding everyone to use extra caution while travelling the roads, as thousands of children will be heading back to school.

The NRPS Traffic Enforcement Unit (TEU) along with officers from the Community Oriented Response and Engagement Unit (CORE) will be conducting Project Safe Start.  This initiative will be focused on safety in school zones and will run from September 8-11, 2026.

Teams will be out at the morning, lunch and dismissal bell times with the intent of covering all schools across the region at points during the week.

The TEU would like to remind motorists to slow down and pay attention when driving.  Obey all school bus and crossing guard signals and signs.  Remember, as a motorist, you must wait until the crossing guard is completely off the roadway before proceeding.

For parents, now is a great time to teach your children how to safely cross the streets using properly marked crosswalks or intersections, avoiding darting out from between parked cars.  Ensure your children wear the appropriate safety equipment when riding bikes, skateboards and other means of travel.  In the Niagara Region, it is illegal to operate E-scooters in any public space, which includes roads, sidewalks, trails and parks.

It’s everyone’s responsibility to ensure road safety.  Let’s make Project Safe Start a success.