Slow down and look out for students

Published Monday, 20 April, 2015 at 05:00 AM

Minister for Main Roads, Road Safety and Ports and Minister for Energy and Water Supply
The Honourable Mark Bailey

As thousands of Queensland students return to school after the Easter holiday break, motorists are being warned to slow down near school zones and be mindful of the presence of students near the road.

Minister for Main Roads and Road Safety Mark Bailey said that, given the unpredictable nature of children, drivers need to take extra care when they are travelling in the vicinity of schools.

“Motorists should be vigilant at all times to ensure the safety of children travelling to and from the school gates,” Mr Bailey said.

“Slowing down to 40km/h when you are in a school zone could be all it takes to prevent a tragedy. I urge all drivers to be mindful of the presence of children getting on and off buses and walking or riding their bikes and scooters to school.”

Mr Bailey said initiatives such as school crossing supervisors and the Queensland Government’s school zone flashing lights program are making the journey to school safer for students.

“There are 1795 school crossing supervisors across Queensland, all committed to ensuring that students are able to safely cross the road. Their dedication to the job offers great peace of mind to parents,” he said.

“We also have a rolling program of works to install flashing lights in school zones at a number of schools across the state to warn motorists of the need to slow down.

“These bright orange flashing signs have been installed at more than 400 schools across Queensland.”

Mr Bailey also encouraged parents to drop off and pick up their children in designated zones, and to follow the rules and be vigilant about ensuring their children are supervised when getting in and out of cars.

“The golden rules are for drivers to slow down and obey the rules, and for parents to be vigilant in helping children cross the roads safely,” he said.

“Let’s all work together to make the start of term two a safe one for students across the state.” 

Media contact:          Minister’s Office 0438 768 734