Although no one enjoyed the recent traffic delays on Avenue Road as the resurfacing project was underway, a smooth new roadway is undeniably nice. Free from bumps and potholes, a new surface can encourage faster driving. “A Formula One raceway,” one constituent lamented.

I draw your attention, then, to those new zebra stripes at all the crosswalks in the lighted intersections.

The purpose of the zebra-striped pedestrian crosswalk is to make the area more visible to drivers. It is a reminder to watch for and yield to pedestrians.

On this newly paved stretch of Avenue Road from Lawrence to Eglinton, the zebra-striped crosswalks are of particular importance. With five schools located nearby, there are many young students crossing.

Traffic injuries involving children are most likely to occur in September and October and between the hours of 3 to 6 p.m. Children under 10 years of age should be accompanied across roadways because they are still developing the cognitive and visual ability to understand what drivers are doing and react appropriately.

Safety rules should be reviewed with older children, even the most obvious: Hit the pedestrian button and cross only when it lights up. Stop talking on the phone or texting or listening to music when crossing.

Point out the less obvious, too: Learn to listen to traffic, not just watch it. Think of the sound of a car that is driving too fast and runs a red light at Glengrove or tries to “boot it” to the other side of Glencairn.

But back to you, drivers: Enjoy the new roadway but please slow down and mind the rules of the road.