With the new school year nearly upon us, a Dubo road safety officer is reminding the community to slow down during school hours and for parents to brush up on their safe parking skills.
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The 40km/h school speed zones will come into force on January 29 around all schools in NSW.
School zones are operational between 8am to 9:30am and 2:30 and 4pm on school days.
Dubbo Regional Council’s Road Safety Officer, Jayne Bleechmore said road safety around schools is everyone’s responsibility.
"Parents and carers can help students stay safe by following simple safety steps and by regularly reinforcing important road safety behaviours with their children," Ms Bleechmore said.
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Ms Bleechmore is encouraging parents to use the kerb-side doors for children to access and egress the car.
Another important tip was not allowing children to go to the rear of the car to deposit their bags in the back door (or boot) especially when front angle parked.
Do not call children from across the road to your car, collect them from their side of the road or park legally where you can and go to meet them, then cross the road together.
“Younger children are at risk in the traffic environment because of their size and their difficulty in judging speed and distance,”Ms Bleechmore said.
Illegal school zone parking creates dangerous situations and brings with it some hefty fines.
These fines have recently increased and are listed below along with their accompanying demerit points:
· No Stopping in a school zone - means you cannot stop in this area unless there is a medical or other emergency - $337.00 fine plus 2 demerit points.
· No Parking (school zone) – means you can stop here for a maximum of two minutes to drop off or pick up passengers and you must stay within three metres of your car at all times - $187.00 fine plus 2 demerit points.
· Bus Zone (school days) – means you must not stop or park your vehicle in a designated school bus zone between 8am and 9:30 am or between 2:30 pm and 4pm - $337.00 fine plus two demerit points.
· Stop on or near a children’s crossing in a school zone – means you must not stop on or within 20 metres of the approach of a crossing or within 10 metres after the crossing - $448.00 fine plus two demerit points.
· Stop on/across driveway in a school zone – means you must not stop on or across a driveway - $337.00 fine plus two demerit points.
· Double parking in a school zone - means you must not stop on a road between the centre of the road and another vehicle parked at the side of the road - $337.00 fine plus two demerit points.
