School's back, so are the 40 kmph speed zones

ACT Policing is reminding motorists to be aware that some 40km/h speed restrictions may be in place around Canberra today (Friday, February 4) for the start of the new ACT primary and secondary school year.

Police will be ramping up enforcement activities around Canberra’s “active” school speed restriction zones from today, with more widespread enforcement planned as students return in number next week.

Traffic Operations Superintendent Mark Colbran said that the danger posed by excessive speed around schools was particularly acute during the first few weeks of the school year, as it brought new students into unfamiliar areas, together with a heightened level of vehicle and pedestrian activity around the schools.

“The basic message around school zones is: slow down and look out for kids. Reducing your speed to 40km/h limit provides for a much increased reaction time for a driver, meaning you can identify potential hazards and react much more quickly,” Supt Colbran said.

“We would also remind parents and guardians who drive children to school that they must not obstruct other traffic, or park illegally because these offences compound traffic problems and hazards around schools.

“The speed enforcement around school zones is part of ACT Policing’s partnership with the ACT Government in addressing the causal problems of road safety. Since February 1, ACT Policing’s traffic enforcement focus has been on speeding, meaning we will be actively targeting those motorists who put their lives and those of others at risk by ignoring the speed limit.”

[Courtesy ACT Policing]