All parents were heard across the Sunshine Coast sighing with relief once the first day of school for 2023 commenced.
That relief can turn to grief very quickly if drivers continually ignore the school zone parking and pick-up procedures.
Sunshine Coast police are reminding parents, grandparents and other carers to drive and park safely around school zones.
School zone areas are designed to keep children and adults safe during the pick-up and drop-off times.
These times are displayed on signs as you enter the school zones. Most school zones times are 7-9am and 2-4pm on school days.
If the speed limit is normally 50km/h, 60km/h or 70km/h the school zone is reduced to 40km/h. If the speed limit on the road is normally 80km/h or above the the school zone is reduced to 60km/h.
Sunshine Coast police are saturating the school zones during the start of the school year and speeding infringement notices will be issued if a driver is detected travelling over the speed limit and parking in undesignated parking areas.
Under the Transport and Operations (Road Use Management – Road Rules) Regulations 2009 if you exceed speed limit in school zones by:
- less than 11km/h you will be fined $287;
- at least 11km/h or under 20km/h you will be fined $431;
- more than 20km/h but less than 30km/h you will be fined $646;
- more than 30km/h but less than 40km/h you will be fined $1078.
“Exceeding the speed limit at any time is a life-endangering offence and there is zero tolerance,” Senior Constable Rebecca McMeniman from the Sunshine Coast Crime Prevention Unit said.
“Children can be unpredictable so slow down and be aware of your surroundings when driving in and around schools.”
It is disappointing to report that since the start of 2023, 13 lives have been lost on Queensland roads.
For more information on back-to-school road safety, visit the Department of Transport and Main Roads website.
This column is compiled by the Sunshine Coast District Crime Prevention Unit.
If you have information for police, contact Policelink by providing information using the online suspicious activity form 24 hours a day at Queensland Police – Reporting.
Report crime information anonymously via Crime Stoppers. Call 1800 333 000 or report online at Crime Stoppers.
