I am a parent to four beautiful children, all under the age of eight, and like many families in Toronto, our daily routine involves navigating the hectic roads for school or daycare pick up and drop off. Our children's daycare is located off busy Danforth Road, where not a day goes by without some concern for our children's safety. Whether it's improperly parked cars in designated pick up/drop off zones or poorly lit streets for pedestrians, the infrastructure and enforcement currently in place are no match for the daily challenges we face.

This is more than a mere inconvenience. It's a constant threat to our children's safety that needs immediate attention. Cars unlawfully parked in these zones force us to park farther away, increasing the risk of accidents as we cross busy streets with our young ones. In fact, studies show that pedestrian injury remains a leading cause of accidental death among children ages 5 to 9 in Canada (Public Health Agency of Canada, 2012). We need to prioritize our children's safety over the convenience of parking close to where dinners and shopping trips happen. 

Therefore, it's time to demand the City of Toronto bolster its measures to ensure these zones are respected. We need stronger enforcement action against those who misuse the zones, rightly giving penalties to those who prioritize their convenience over our children's safety.

Additionally, we need infrastructure changes designed to ensure the safety of our children when dropping off and picking up from schools/daycares. This entails optimized street lighting, the provision of more parking options, and strategically placed crosswalks.

Join me in pushing for this vital change across Toronto. Our children's safety is truly at stake. Your signature today is a step towards securing a safer tomorrow for the young ones of Toronto. Please sign this petition.