Community Safety Zone Sign
A community safety zone is a designated area around schools, playgrounds, or other places where children gather. All traffic fines for speeding, disobeying signs, and other offences are doubled inside these zones.
Last updated: April 4, 2026
A community safety zone is designated by a municipal by-law and approved by the Province of Ontario. Inside the zone, all fines for traffic offences under the Highway Traffic Act are doubled. The zones exist near schools, playgrounds, community centres, and places where vulnerable road users, particularly children, are regularly present. The doubled fines apply regardless of whether children are present at the time of the offence.
Quick Facts
Type
Regulatory Sign
Shape
Rectangular
Colours
White background with black text
In this guide
What does the Community Safety Zone Sign mean?
A community safety zone is designated by a municipal by-law and approved by the Province of Ontario. Inside the zone, all fines for traffic offences under the Highway Traffic Act are doubled. The zones exist near schools, playgrounds, community centres, and places where vulnerable road users, particularly children, are regularly present. The doubled fines apply regardless of whether children are present at the time of the offence.
What to do when you see it
Obey all speed limits and traffic signs strictly inside a community safety zone. The margin for error is much smaller because the financial penalties are significantly higher. Treat these zones with the same level of caution as a school zone, even outside of school hours.
Where you'll see it in Ontario
Community safety zone signs are posted at the boundaries of the zone, typically in advance so drivers have time to reduce speed and heighten attention. They are common around schools, recreation areas, and residential sections adjacent to schools in municipalities throughout Ontario including Vaughan and Toronto.
G1 test relevance
G1 questions may ask about the meaning of a community safety zone and the consequence of traffic offences within it. Candidates should know that the doubled fine applies to all traffic offences, not just speeding, and that it does not matter whether children are present when the offence occurs.
Common mistakes drivers make
Assuming the doubled fine only applies during school hours is a common misunderstanding. The fine applies at all times once you enter the marked zone. Drivers sometimes also confuse this sign with a school zone sign, but community safety zones do not always involve a reduced speed unless a speed limit sign also appears.
Related Signs
School Zone Sign
The school zone sign marks the beginning of a reduced speed area near a school. In Ontario, the default school zone speed is 40 km/h or as posted, and applies during school hours and when children are present.
Learn moreSpeed Limit Sign
The speed limit sign is a white rectangular sign showing the maximum legal speed in kilometres per hour for that section of road. Drivers must not exceed the posted number under normal conditions.
Learn moreSchool Warning Sign
The school warning sign is a fluorescent yellow-green diamond sign that warns drivers they are approaching a school zone where children may be crossing the road. It is placed in advance of the school zone boundary.
Learn morePedestrian Crossover Sign
A pedestrian crossover is a designated crossing where vehicles must stop and remain stopped until pedestrians have completely crossed to the other side. It is a stronger legal requirement than a crosswalk.
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