The school environment and student car drop-off at elementary schools

There has been an increase in vulnerable road user fatalities in the City of Toronto, Canada, necessitating greater emphasis on traffic safety measures. Potentially risky student drop-off behaviours by private vehicle drivers are frequently observed around schools which may contribute to collision risk. A cross-sectional observational study conducted in the spring, 2015 at 100 Toronto elementary schools, examined built environment features associated with risky student drop-off and pedestrian behaviours. Observers completed a checklist to identify risky behaviour outcomes. Covariates included the proportion of children observed dropped off by private vehicles, built environment features (within 200 m of schools) and school social disadvantage. Logistic regression was conducted for each outcome. The most common risky behaviours observed were dropping children at the opposite side of the road from schools (79%) and reversing dangerously (64%). The most common child pedestrian behaviours were crossing at uncontrolled midblock locations (85%) and crossing between parked cars (61%). Traffic congestion around schools was associated with double parking (OR 5.96), reversing (OR 4.14) and crossing between parked cars (OR 2.71, children). Less parking blocking crossing controls (OR 0.26) reversing (OR 0.37) uncontrolled midblock crossing (OR 0.26, children) and crossing between parked cars (OR 0.31, children) was observed where there were designated car drop-off areas. Driver texting appeared less common when crossing guards were present (OR 0.18). Greater school disadvantage was associated with uncontrolled pedestrian midblock crossings (OR 14.37, children). Findings will help develop policy and interventions targeting collision risk around schools as part of Toronto's new Road Safety Plan.