Drivers are being reminded to slow down while driving through school zones to keep kids safe now that school has returned.
With hundreds of thousands of students back at school this week, VicRoads Acting Director of Road User and Vehicle Access John Matta urged all drivers to play their part.
“It’s everyone’s job to keep kids safe. Slow down, look up and be alert. Take extra care during drop-off and pick-up times,” he said.
Mr Matta said a small reduction in speed can dramatically increase the chance of a child surviving if hit by a car.
“Crashes involving children around schools happen quickly. Reducing your speed to 40 km/h can make a big difference when you are trying to pull up suddenly.”
“The slower speed increases your ability to stop and it also lessens the impact if there is a collision,” he said.
Speed limits set for school speed zones are clearly sign posted and drivers need to be cautious and attentive to the signage.
“It’s very clear when you are approaching a school zone. The school speed zone limits are clearly communicated with permanent speed limit signs, advance warning signs, time based signs or electronic variable signs, so there’s never an excuse for speeding through these zones,” he said.
Mr Matta said school speed zones were designed to keep kids safe by lowering the speed limit at peak times when children were travelling to and from school, while taking into account issues such as high traffic volumes, peak school pedestrian hours and school holidays.
He added the zones also protected the safety of teachers and parents.
Speed limits outside schools are reduced at the start of each school term to either 40km/h or 60km/h in the morning from 8am to 9.30am, and in the afternoon from 2.30pm to 4pm, he said.
VicRoads also reminded drivers they should be aware that police enforce reduced speed limits for the safety of the community.
For further information on school zones please visit: https://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/safety-and-road-rules/driver-safety/speeding/school-speed-zones.
