Monday marks the start of a new term for school children and Eastern Police want to remind road users to slow down and think about the safety of our children at this busy time.
Eastern Police will be actively patrolling school zones to ensure the safety of all children getting to and from school.
"No one wants to be responsible for a child being seriously hurt or killed, so we need everyone to be driving safely around the peak times," says Senior Sergeant Dean Plowman, Prevention Manager for Road Policing in the Eastern District.
Mr Plowman says a key area for Police will be vehicles driving above the speed limit in school zones.
“Speed limits around schools have been reduced to give children a better chance when things go wrong so please, slow down.
“If a child is hit by a car travelling at 50km/hr, they have very little chance of surviving the collision.
“Mistakes happen and your speed decides the outcome.”
Police will also be focussing on drivers’ speeds around school buses.
“The speed limit past school buses is 20km/hr, so drivers must slow down in case a child runs out unexpectedly,” says Mr Plowman.
“While the main focus is keeping our children safe, a driver caught exceeding the speed limit past a school bus is issued with an immediate $150 infringement notice.”
Parents are reminded to never stop on yellow lines or double park, and infringement notices will be issued for either:
“It may be convenient for the parent and their children but it creates a significant safety risk when it block visibility for other road users. Some schools have major issues with this.”
Pedestrian crossings are another hazard near schools.
“Children who may run straight onto the painted lines without looking. It is up to the driver to remain alert and aware in order keep those kids safe.”
Mr Plowman wants parents to take responsibility for keeping children safe too.
“For little ones, this means adequate supervision, using proper crossings, and making sure they are safe. If travelling by car, ensure children are in the appropriate child restraint and that it is properly fitted.
“Insist on them getting out on the footpath side. For those biking to school make sure they have a properly fitting helmet, wear highly visible clothing and have a bike that is safe, with inflated tyres, and working brakes.
“If you have a teenager driving to school, have a conversation with them about abiding by the conditions of their licence and remind them to watch their speed past schools.”
Finally, all drivers are reminded to be alert and avoid distraction.
“That means not using your cell phone whilst driving, not turning around to speak to kids in the back seat, and watching for other kids on bikes or crossing the road.
"Nobody wants to be responsible for hurting someone, especially if it was preventable by just driving a little slower and paying a bit more attention."
ENDS
Police Media Centre