Minister Barr: New measures to improve road safety in school zones
- Written by ACT Government
Released 03/08/2015
Joint Chief Minister and Minister Burch MLA media release:
The ACT Government has today announced a suite of road safety measures in school zones.
The measures include a Police blitz on dangerous speeding and parking around ACT schools, increased use of higher profile road markings to alert drivers that they are entering a slower speed zone and a review of road signage in school zones across the ACT.
In 2014, there were over 1372 infringement notices and cautions handed out to Canberrans driving in school zones. I have asked the Minister for Police Joy Burch to work with ACT Police to establish a specific blitz targeting speeding and dangerous parking in school zones. The Minister made this a clear priority in the 2015-16 ACT Policing purchase agreement. We are rushed in our daily lives but we need to slow down around schools. These new initiatives aren’t about annoying drivers, but rather to reduce the risk of a moment’s inattention that could be costly for everyone.
The Minister for Police and Minister for Education Joy Burch said that children are the most vulnerable road users, and keeping them safe should be a priority. “Last year, as Minister for Education, I established a joint taskforce of officials from Education and Training, Health, Territory and Municipal Services, Justice and Community Services and Roads. They were tasked to work together on ways to make the roads around our schools as safe as possible for our kids, their parents and carers, the school community and motorists. Today’s announcement is the first important step in that taskforce’s work,” Ms Burch said. “As Minister for Police, I also made road safety around schools a priority in the purchase agreement we signed with ACT Policing in June. “The ACT Government is working at all levels to make school zones safer for our kids. We all need to work together on protecting our city’s children from harm.” The Government would also like community views on reducing the speed limit to 30kmph around particular, high risk schools, should the evidence show that this could reduce accidents. Community members are encouraged to provide feedback on the ACT Government’s ‘Time to Talk’ website. There is no excuse for speeding, and while most people do the right thing, there is more we can do.
- Statement ends -
Section: Andrew Barr, MLA | Media Releases
