January 23, 2017
Road users are being reminded to take extra care in school zones with Queensland students returning to class.
Police Minister Mark Ryan said school zones would be fully operational from Monday morning, January 23 with reduced speed limits during marked drop-off and pick-up times.
“With hundreds of thousands of students starting or returning to school tomorrow, we are urging all motorists to take extra care, slow down and be on the lookout for pedestrians near schools,” Minister Ryan said.
Minister Ryan said extra police would be enforcing speed limits and road rules in school zones across Queensland.
“Queensland motorists should expect police to be out in force in school zones from tomorrow and throughout this week targeting drivers and riders putting others at risk near schools,” he said.
“I encourage everyone to be patient in and around schools zones, pay attention to the changed speed zones and allow extra travel time on journeys which incorporate these areas where there will be extra traffic.
“I’d also urge parents and carers to speak to their children about basic road safety such as when and where to cross the road and always wearing a helmet when riding a bike.”
Road Policing Command Assistant Commissioner Mike Keating said police issued 27,634 speeding infringements in Queensland school zones in 2016.
“School zones are a hive of activity during pick up and drop off times which increases the risk of traffic crashes occurring,” Assistant Commissioner Keating said.
“By reducing your speed, you are less likely to be involved in a serious collision as you have more time to make split second decisions, you are less likely to lose control of the vehicle and have much shorter stopping distances.”
He said all available traffic officers would be undertaking traffic enforcement in school zones across Queensland throughout the first week of school.
“Extra police will be enforcing school zone speed limits and important road rules such as stopping at children’s’ crossings and giving way to pedestrians.”
The ‘Back to School’ week is the final phase of QPS’ 50-day Christmas Road Safety Campaign which concludes at midnight on Friday.
The standard times that most school zones apply in Queensland are 7:00am-9:00am and 2:00pm-4:00pm, and the most common school zone speed limit is 40km/h.
