Keeping kids safe around schools
When kids head back to school after the holidays, there’s a lot more traffic on the roads, particularly at school drop-off and pick-up times.
Whether children are excited or miserable about hitting the books again – or for the first time – they’ll most likely be distracted, so it’s vital motorists take extra care. To help maintain safety around school zones, it’s important to follow parking restrictions and traffic rules.
Figures from 2019 to 2023 revealed 40 per cent of casualties involving pedestrians and cyclists under 16 occurred on weekdays between 8am and 9am and 3pm and 4pm.
Over this five-year period, 146 children under 16 were injured (16 seriously) during these two daily time periods, and there was one fatality.
These sobering statistics highlight the higher level of risk to children’s safety at the beginning and end of the school day.
RAA Senior Manager of Safety and Infrastructure Charles Mountain says motorists should show extra care and patience around school zones.
“Alarmingly, motorists are still running red lights at pedestrian crossings near school zones. It’s important to remember that crossings will be activated more frequently when school resumes, so be prepared to stop when the lights change,” Charles says.
Keep in mind that the 25km/h speed limit within school zones applies 24 hours a day, seven days a week, year-round, whenever a child is present in the zone. A child is any person under 18 or a student of any age wearing a school uniform.
This video shows the range of crossings you’re likely to encounter around schools and the rules that apply to each crossing type.
Penalties
Penalties for exceeding the school zone speed limit range from $202 and two demerit points for exceeding the limit by less than 10km/h, to $1684 and seven demerit points for exceeding it by 30km to 44km/h. This means passing through a school zone at 60km/h would attract a $1684 fine. Speeding fines also incur a $102 Victims of Crime levy.
Failing to stop at a children’s crossing stop line or proceeding while a pedestrian or cyclist is using – or is about to use – the crossing attracts a $514 fine, three demerit points, plus a $102 Victims of Crime levy.