School zones
School zones are a priority area for Council and a number of actions
have been implemented to educate and improve safety around school areas.
School, children particularly of primary age, can be less visible to
motorists and therefore more vulnerable.
Council has been a supporter of walk to school programs for a number of
years. These programs have a particular emphasis on road safety and how
the risks of road crossings can be minimised.|
Safety Tips for School Drop-off and pick-up by car
- Make sure your children are in appropriate child car seats that are fitted and used correctly.
- Stick to the 40km/h speed limit in a school zone as children are about and can be unpredictable.
- Look out for buses pulling out – watch for wig-wag lights.
- Always park and turn legally around schools and avoid dangerous manoeuvres like U-turns and three-point turns.
- Always give way to pedestrians, especially when entering and leaving driveways.
- Drop the kids off and pick them up on the school
side of the road in your school's designated drop-off and pick-up area.
Calling out to them from across the road is dangerous because they may
run to you without checking traffic.
- It's safest for the kids to get out of the car on the kerb side of the road to be away from passing traffic.
Safety tips for walking together to and from school
- Plan your trip to school so you are using pedestrian crossing areas where possible.
- Always hold your child's hand up until the age of
eight. Young children need your help to spot danger like vehicles coming
out of driveways. They can also be easily distracted and wander into
traffic.
- Drop off and pick up your child near the school
gate and avoid calling them from across the road. Talk to your children
about Stop, Look, Listen and Think every time they cross the road:
- Stop one step back from the kerb
- Look for traffic to your right left and right again
- Listen for the sounds of approaching traffic
- Think whether it is safe to cross
- School flashing lights and 40km/h school zones
- School zone flashing lights provide an important
warning to motorists that they are entering a 40km/h school zone. This
lower speed limit reduces the risk and potential severity of a crash.
The NSW Government has ensured that every school in NSW has at least one
set of school zone flashing lights.
School Crossing Supervisor Program
A school crossing supervisor stops traffic to allow two schoolboys to cross the road safely.
The School Crossing Supervisor Program is a state-wide program that
contributes to the safety of infants and primary school students.
School crossing supervisors help students use the
crossings on roads adjacent to or nearby schools. School crossing
supervisors are provided where transport authority guidelines and
criteria are met. The School Crossing Supervisors program is an
important component of the Safety Around Schools program.
How to apply for a school crossing supervisor
Transport authorities assess sites to determine their
eligibility for a school crossing supervisor. Requests for a school
crossing supervisor need to be submitted in writing to Roads and
Maritime Services by school principals. The Request for a School Crossing Supervisor Form can
be found on the NSW Transport website and must to be signed by the
principal and include details of the crossing being nominated for a
supervisor.