With Tasmanian students returning to school this month, the Minister for Infrastructure, David O’Byrne, has asked drivers to take extra care when driving through school zones.

Tasmania Police have also advised drivers they’ll be monitoring school zones closely in the weeks and months ahead.

“Keeping our children safe and secure on the roads is a vital responsibility for all of us, all year round,” Mr O’Byrne said.

“But with a busy school year starting up, and some kids attending for the first time, vigilance and caution around schools is more important than ever.

“When you’re approaching a school zone, you must obey the reduced speed limit and the instructions of crossing guards.

“Please be patient and courteous to crossing guards, who play a vital role in protecting Tasmania’s children,” he said.

Important rules and safety tips around school zones and crossings include:

• By law, drivers must slow to 40 km/h in school zones.
• If a crossing guard is at the edge of the crossing with the stop sign held out, drivers must stop before the hold line and wait.
• Drivers must slow to 40 km/h when they’re within 50 metres of a school bus which has flashing warning lights – regardless of whether the bus is stopped or moving (while school bus travel is one of the safest ways to travel, children are at most risk when getting on or off buses).
• Don’t park too close to school crossings, and take special care when dropping off or picking up children from school.
• If possible parents should park on the school side of the road, so children don’t have to cross the road. If that’s not possible, children should get out on the passenger side to avoid traffic.
• Parents should remind children to use school crossings, pedestrian crossings, traffic lights. If that’s not possible, they should cross at a point where traffic can be seen in both directions, and they’re clearly visible to drivers.
• If your child rides a bike to school, check a safe cycling route between home and school, and familiarise your child with likely problems. Check their bikes for roadworthiness, ensure they wear bright clothes to improve visibility, and remind them to wear a helmet at all times.

Assistant Commissioner Phil Wilkinson said Tasmania Police will be actively targeting school zones, and will have a low tolerance in these areas as children return to school.

“The 40 km/h speed limit is there so motorists have extra time should they need to stop suddenly or unexpectedly,” Assistant Commissioner Wilkinson said.

“Police will be actively conducting overt and covert operations around school areas, not only for the period when school returns but in the weeks and months that follow,” he said.

In Tasmania, 102 school crossing patrol officers cover 66 sites across 53 schools. The State Government invests almost $700,000 a year to provide their uniforms, training and salaries. A permanent full-time school crossing patrol officer coordinator is also employed by the Department of Infrastructure, Energy and Resources.

The Government is also investing more than $5 million to progressively install electronic speed signs for schools as part of the Tasmanian Road Safety Strategy, with the funding coming from the Road Safety Levy.

When the roll-out’s completed, there’ll be 650 electronic speed signs at 240 schools. 466 of them have already been rolled out at 193 schools. The rest be installed in the first half of this year.

David O'Byrne, MP (Minister for Infrastructure)
Assistant Commissioner Phil Wilkinson (Tasmania Police)