Motorists Urged to Remember Student Safety in School Zones

Friday August 1, 2014

Concerns from residents about unsafe driver behaviour around local schools has prompted Griffith City Council to issue a plea for motorists to take greater responsibility when driving in school zones, especially during the morning and afternoon peak periods.

Council’s Road Safety Officer Greg Balind said he had received a growing number of complaints from parents and other road users who were concerned students could be seriously injured or fatally harmed when being dropped off and picked up.

“Based on these concerns we conducted a traffic analysis at school zones across the Griffith area and discovered numerous incidents of adverse driving behaviour that compromised the safety of school children,” Mr Balind said. “The analysis revealed that speeding and illegal parking around schools is rampant as many drivers disregard driving and parking laws.”

Recently, speeding in school zones prompted NSW Police Highway Patrol to conduct speed enforcement duties in these areas.

“This is effective in influencing drivers to comply with road rules, which suggests that drivers are aware of their responsibilities around schools. However unless there is a police presence, they take unnecessary and dangerous risks,” Mr Balind said.

Councillor Simon Croce, Chair of Council’s Transport Committee, said school zones can be dangerous places simply because of the number of people and vehicles during pick-up and drop-off times.

“Child safety is paramount at any time but according to our traffic analysis, many drivers are disregarding the laws associated with driving and parking in school zones areas and putting children’s lives at risk,” Councillor Croce said. “We are issuing a plea to local motorists to observe speed limits and to park legally – not only it is the law, it will help ensure the safety of students, pedestrians and fellow motorists in those areas.”

Mr Balind said the school traffic analysis also revealed a number of parking offences that could contribute to a child being injured or killed. These included: 

• Drivers parking in ‘No Stopping’ zones next to children’s crossings thus restricting sight distances for those using the crossing.  
• Vehicles remaining in ‘No Parking’ zones for periods extending beyond legislative time limits (2 minutes); defeating the principle purpose of the allocated drop off and pick up zones. This is also leads to frustration for other parents.
• Parents parking in designated school bus zones,
• Double parking,
• Parking on nature strips or in nearby residential driveways,
• Talking or texting on mobile phones while driving, and
• Children not restrained in vehicles.

“Drivers may think that parking illegally for only a short time will cause no harm but this is unacceptable considering it only takes a second for an accident to occur. Unfortunately recent history has shown that tragedies involving children being hit by cars is becoming more prevalent,” Mr Balind said.  

Drivers are reminded that the 40k/h school zones are in force from 8am to 9.30am and then again from 2.30pm to 4pm when school is in term and that speeding and parking fines attract greater monetary and demerit penalties than those committed in non-school zones.

For information about school zone rules, signs and fines, please click here: http://www.griffith.nsw.gov.au/cp_themes/default/page.asp?p=DOC-TMG-65-40-21

For information about road safety around schools, please click here: http://roadsafety.transport.nsw.gov.au/downloads/safety-around-schools.pdf.

For any questions, please contact Greg Balind on 6962 8100.