Driver distraction in school zones: A roadside observational study in Canada

Distracted and impatient driving are top contributors to road crashes and fatalities. However, we lack sufficient data on the prevalence of dangerous behaviours and quantities of active transportation users integrated with motorized traffic in school zones – urbanized areas that exhibit higher rates of vulnerable road users. This study fills this gap by investigating the prevalence of driver distraction and impatient driving at seven locations in school zones in the city of Windsor, Ontario in Canada. Roadside observations were conducted during the Fall of 2024 and Winter of 2025 at peak activity periods during both the morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up times. Dangerous behaviours were measured as a factor of environmental factors (weather, season), time of the day (AM vs PM), and vehicle characteristics. Results showed an increased presence of dangerous driving in warmer months, with no significant differences being found between morning and afternoon. Approximately 20% of all drivers were engaged in distracting or impatient driving, with one in ten drivers being engaged in unlawful behaviours involving the use of handheld devices while driving. Drivers of larger vehicles also exhibited more dangerous driving. Our study adds to the distracted and impatient driving literature, and offers valuable information for road safety practitioners and regulators that can be used to implement more targeted road safety solutions.