A Durham school-zone blitz will bring increased police enforcement to school and community safety zones across the region beginning Tuesday, September 8.
Durham Regional Police officers from every division are expected to take part in the annual “In the Zone” campaign during the first week of classes. The initiative targets driving behaviour that can endanger students, crossing guards, cyclists and pedestrians during busy morning drop-off and afternoon pickup periods.
Police will focus on speeding, distracted driving and other unsafe conduct around schools. Drivers are being asked to obey posted limits, avoid distractions and leave additional time for congestion as thousands of students return to classrooms.
Enforcement will cover Durham Region
The campaign is separate from municipal parking enforcement announced in Oshawa. “In the Zone” is a region-wide police initiative involving the DRPS Traffic Services Branch and officers working in local divisions.
Community safety zones can carry increased penalties for certain offences. Motorists should also expect more children walking and cycling, buses making frequent stops and crossing guards entering the roadway near elementary and secondary schools.
Police have not announced specific enforcement locations. The campaign is intended to cover school zones and designated community safety zones throughout Durham Region rather than a single municipality.
Last year’s campaign produced more than 1,100 tickets
DRPS reported that its September 2025 back-to-school blitz resulted in more than 1,100 traffic tickets. That total included 527 speeding tickets, 16 cellphone-related violations, five stunt-driving charges and 17 careless-driving violations.
Those numbers are results from the 2025 initiative and are not a forecast for this year. Police typically release the current campaign’s results after the enforcement period concludes.
The service describes “In the Zone” as a combination of visible police presence, proactive traffic enforcement and public reminders intended to make travel around schools safer.
Drivers approaching a school should watch for reduced speed limits, stopped school buses, crossing guards and children who may enter the roadway unexpectedly. Vehicles must stop when required for a school bus displaying its red lights and stop arm, subject to the rules for the type of roadway.
Parents and caregivers dropping off students should use designated areas and avoid stopping where they could block sightlines, sidewalks, bicycle routes or crossings. Police say even a modest reduction in vehicle speed can improve safety when children are nearby.
The 2026 Durham school-zone blitz is scheduled to begin on the first school day after the Labour Day weekend.
