In response to increasing community concern about safety around local schools, Council endorsed the Safety Around Schools education campaign at their final meeting of 2018 in order to keep kids safe during the school term. 

Council’s Manager Development and Environmental Services, Mary-Anne Crawford said the aim of the campaign was to increase awareness, and penalty notices would only be issued by Council rangers as a last resort if all other cautions and warnings were ignored by drivers.

“Council regularly receives complaints about illegal parking around schools, with requests for enforcement to be carried out from both schools and local residents,” she said.

“We are urging parents to adhere to signs in school zones when dropping off and picking up their kids, but most importantly to reduce the risk of tragedy occurring.

“This is an extremely busy time of year with kids returning to the classroom, and an exciting time for children starting their school journey.

“But the reality is school zones are busy and being extra vigilant is the best way to prevent accidents.

“And while education provides an important component to the Safety Around Schools program, the issuing of penalty notices is a key deterrent to any driver who unfortunately chooses to do the wrong thing.”

Council’s Road Safety Officer, Alison Balding said she had visited local schools at the end of 2018 to install educational signage and to speak with school communities about safe driving behaviour.

“It is important that parents, carers, teachers and students fully understand the parking restrictions and speed limits around school zones,” she said.

“Most people are aware of the 40kph speed limit, but tend to ignore the parking restrictions which are there to keep our kids safe.

“All of the local primary schools in the Singleton township have indicated that parking compliance around schools has been problematic and a safety concern.

“There are three key elements to improving road safety: education, engineering and enforcement, and Council has a leading role to play in harnessing these elements to improve safety.

“Children are vulnerable road users — they are at risk around roads because of their size, their difficulty in judging speed and distance, and their tendencies for unpredictable behaviour.”

The Safety Around Schools program aims to eliminate confusion around where and when parking is permitted, bus zones and reduced speed limits of school zones. These restrictions are integral in providing safe pick up and drop off opportunities, and to minimise confusion where children are crossing roads.

There are increased penalties for breaking the road rules in school zones, which include demerit points and fines. The penalty for stopping in a ‘No Stopping’ zone in a school zone is $337 and two demerit points. The penalty for stopping on/near a children’s crossing or a pedestrian crossing in a school zone is $448 and two demerit points. 

For more information about school zone safety, visit http://roadsafety.transport.nsw.gov.au or contact Council’s Road Safety Officer on 02 6578 7290.