Drivers be aware of school zones – Glen Ziino and Leading Senior Constable Allen Inderwisch from Casey Highway Patrol urge residents to drive with care near school zones. 37770

By Bridget Brady and Lia Bichel
SCHOOL is back and so are the speed restrictions.
Police are reminding motorists that school speed zones apply in Casey during scheduled times, and to abide by the restrictions to keep children safe.
Leading Senior Constable Allen Inderwisch from Casey Highway Patrol said the safety of students was paramount to police, and motorists should expect a zero tolerance for speeding near schools.
The speed limit around schools can be 40km/h from 8am to 9.15am and 2.30pm and 4pm each school day. Permanent 40km/h zones also apply in some areas.
Casey Highway Patrol have started conducting Operation JUNO, enforcing speed and safety related offences around schools.
From 2.30pm until 5.30pm last Tuesday, police targeted drivers around Oaklands Primary School, Cranbourne East P-12 and Endeavour Hills Secondary College.
They caught 57 drivers exceeding the speed limit, one person who was driving while suspended and detected 14 other traffic offences.
Casey Highway Patrol Sergeant Pat McGavigan said many drivers had to be more aware of signage near schools.
“It reinforces the fact that people have to take care around school zones,” Sgt McGavigan said.
“Some people don’t realise that there are permanent 40km/h speed limits. Some people who live in the area didn’t even realise there were permanent 40km/h speed zones.
‘Unfortunately, it’s the safety of the kids that’s at stake.”
Sgt McGavigan said police would conduct Operation JUNO several times throughout the school year.
Police were disappointed with the results of last year’s operation, picking up more than 300 offences in school zones.
Ldg Sen Const Inderwisch said he hoped there was not a repeat of those figures this year.
“Motorists need to be aware that children, by their nature, can be very unpredictable and can often make decisions that adults wouldn’t and they need to be very careful when driving around school zones,” he said.
“We’re urging everyone to do the right thing.”
Ldg Sen Const Inderwisch said parents also needed to ensure their children were safety savvy while crossing roads.
“We also ask parents not to double-park in school zones. It creates a traffic hazard and problems for the children.”
A crossing supervisor was badly injured during a collision in Hampton Park last year, and Ldg Sen Const Inderwisch said police didn’t want to see that happen again.