Comments on: School zones – have your say

By: Peter

Peter — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 23:56:53 +0000

I’m sure most drivers would be happy to slow down to a crawl emitting twice the carbon foot print as usual as the car chugs along at a snails pace. However isn’t it time to look at this whole issue from a technological point of view. If the zone is lit then maybe its time that the zone only operates as a school zone for 30 minutes before that school opening time and 5 minutes after close. Now that would allow the best of both worlds and lets face it life is a compromise… Traffic choas in sydney is in part due to crawl zones as they have become known as and the majority resent them due to the poor implementation in NSW. Its time we used technology for motorists and kids benefit and have these zones timed for the benefit of both motorists and school kids..
have you ever driven on major roads during school zones how many heavy vehicles go flashing past… let alone 4wheel drives

By: Alan

Alan — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 02:32:08 +0000

They don’t teach children reading, writing or arithmetic these days. Check out any facebook page today and see what has happened to spelling and grammar. What makes you think they would learn road safety? They simply walk across the road. If you hit them, its YOUR fault, not theirs. I say take away the warning signs and let the problem sort itself out. If they are too stupid to look before they leap, why would you want them in the gene pool?

By: Tony

Tony — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 22:54:59 +0000

I find that the NSW system of school flashing lights is not satisfactory. I was in the state of South Australia earlier this year and their system of a red and amber flashing lights similar to traffic lights attract your attention to the speed limit much better than the NSW system.
This brings me to the many speed zones that we motorists have to comply with throughout the day. We have timed zones am/pm near schools, then there are many variations of speed limits throughout a short journey in the suburbs. 40 kph, 50 kph, 60 kph, 70 kph, 80 kph, 90 kph, 100 kph, 110 kph. If the zone changes from a higher to a lower zone and a large vehicle obstructs the sign, you continue travelling at the higher limit.
What ever happened to the two limits when I started driving in my teenage days, 35 mls per hour in the suburbs, and the open road limit of 60 mls per hour. It wasn’t confusing driving in those days at all.

By: Charlie

Charlie — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 08:55:38 +0000

I’m happy to say that I am happy with the way things are.

Perhaps if it’s all too hard and distracting people should consider selling their cars and taking the bus.

By: tracey

tracey — Sat, 18 Sep 2010 07:35:49 +0000

my local school has a school zone that ends at the corner of going on to a major road with alot of children crossing this major road about 1m from the school zone at a pedestrian crossing we cant get a school zone put in due to it not been a direct access point but yet another local high school that backs onto a highway without an access point is able to have a school zone. If the government and rta are rambling on about school safety maybe look at the schools that need a zone even though its not what the rta class as a direct access point. Where we cross to go to school just outside the school zone so many of us have come so close to been hit and yet the rta doesnt do anything. so is there really any point to these zones if they cant be put where they are needed but be put where they are not needed.

By: Ed

Ed — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 02:46:45 +0000

The current school zone restrictions are ridiculous. They are a symtomatic of the whole nanny state super control over our lives and govt desire to tax us at every opportunity. If there is truly a need for more safety at schools then fences are a much better option as they permanently stop access between footpath and road. Ofcourse this would not be considered as it would cost the govt money without allowing them to tax the drivers, no good at all.

The next step in the nanny state process will be to connect a GPS in every car to our bank accounts and to the state treasury and every time you exceed the apeed limit money is automatically transferred. Then the govt can finally balance its books by adjusting the fines until it receives enough.

Oh, did anyone mention road safety?

By: Agnes

Agnes — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 03:42:32 +0000

OMG. We are so institutionalized by Sydney traffic.School zone?50 km/hrs?Where are we? When my children were young I have to teach them how and when to cross the road ….school or no school…
Now I’m a grandmother and I do nothing else on the road.. but look out for the sign.
School zone?? Those high school teenagers..going out partying.. taking drugs..having sex…learning how to drive… etc… and they don’t know how to cross the road??
THIS IS BEYOND JOKE..

By: jerry

jerry — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 21:13:05 +0000

If a car is travelling through a school zone at 2:29pm and the flashing lights arent on doing 60km/h and the time changed to 2:30pm while going past the speed camera at 60km/h would the car get booked.

By: Russ

Russ — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 05:01:56 +0000

Easy – drive to the conditions, Watch for kids doing silly things around school start and finish times and around buses.
Educate children – just like we did previously – “do not run out onto the road” instead of “it’s OK to be silly the cars are going slowly now”.
The application of a time-based school zone speed limit actually distracts drivers from their primary task. They have to watch their clocks and their speedos at a time when they really should be watching the road and surrounds. It creates fear and frustration where it need not be so.
Give school zones the flick.

By: fred

fred — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 07:22:29 +0000

I agree that the flashing lights are essential. I do not have school children and do not work. Often I have no idea about school days or time of day. The flashing lights alert me that the speed limit is active. However I think that 40km speed limits on MAJOR ROADS is absolutely rediculous. There should be no main entrance to the school on the major road, but it should be in the side street. Further there should be a fence along the kerb on major road where it passes a school. I also have an issue with 40km zones at high schools. The children that attend these schools will shortly become drivers and if they do not have road sence by the time they attend high school than heaven help us.