By BRIDGET COOK
CASEY residents have been given a visual reminder to slow down in school zones now that children have returned from holidays.
The council has been placing a Speed Alert Monitor (SAM) in school zones across the municipality as part of the ‘Keep them safe outside the school gate’ program.
Information collected from the SAM informs Victoria Police of locations which require enforcement attention.
City of Casey mayor Amanda Stapledon said there were widespread benefits to monitoring and highlighting speed in school zones.
“A SAM is strategically located to educate motorists about their responsibilities while driving and to prompt children to learn more about the importance of limiting speeds in school zones,” she said.
“The presence of a SAM encourages and reminds motorists to slow to the designated speed before approaching a crossing in a school zone.
The City of Casey has one of the largest school crossing programs in Victoria and spends more than $2 million annually to provide 170 school crossings across the municipality.
School crossings are monitored by a supervisor on school days between 8 and 9.30am each morning and 2.30 and 4pm each afternoon.
For more information about the City of Casey’s ‘Keep them safe outside the school gate’ program or about school crossings in the City of Casey phone customer service on 9705 5200.