School Safety: EVERY decision you make behind the wheel counts

The 2023 school year is well underway which means speed limits apply during certain hours in school pick-up and dropoff zones.

Drivers should be aware of surrounding school zones and to check signage when driving through a school zone.

“As a police officer, a road user, a school adopt-a-cop and as a parent, I urge drivers to take extra care and to remain aware of the parking restrictions in school zones,” said Senior Constable Ricky Blanckensee.

“Children sometimes make poor road safety choices and therefore, child safety is everyone’s business.”

When driving through or parking in school zones, please be aware of the following:

• Use the area like a quick-moving taxi rank.

• Move forward in the queue of vehicles to the signed area.

• Once in the signed area, you may exit your vehicle quickly to help your children get in and out safely however, you must not walk away from your vehicle.

• You are only allowed two minutes in the signed area, if you take any longer you can be fined.

• Only let your children out once you have pulled into the signed area as it is dangerous to let them out while waiting in a queue.

• Teach your children to look out for your vehicle and to get in quickly when you pull up.

• Always enter the queue front-in, never in reverse.

Some pick-up and drop-off areas are supervised by a volunteer traffic co-ordinator, who may assist in helping your child get in and of the vehicle, and who ensure vehicles do not exceed the wait time so as to avoid a traffic build up.

If your pick-up or drop-off area has a traffic coordinator, you should stay in your vehicle at all times as they will be able to help your children.

Please follow these easy tips to help ensure children are kept safe in and around schools.

For more information, visit www.qld.gov.au/transport/ safety/rules/schools