Comments on: School zones – have your say

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.

By: Bill

Bill — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 06:46:45 +0000

Isn’t it amazing cars are required by law to be fitted with a speedo that tells the speed, however there is no requirement for a car to be fitted with a clock or device to tell the time. If caught speeding in a school zone you might well argue in court that you had no idea of what the time was, so why the need to reduce speed. I know most late model cars usually do have a clock or similar however some of the oldies don’t. In the absent of flashing lights how would it be possible for you to know what time it was or if the speed limit for that section of road was any different?

By: Chris

Chris — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 11:05:07 +0000

To me the most disappointing thing is that in true Government fashion, everything is done blanket fashion. There are school zones where they are not needed and are a nuisance.
Why do we need school zones where there already exists over the road bridge walkways, particularly on major roads. School zones are to provide a level of safety for children to cross the road. Well, what is the point if the children use an overhead bridge and don’t actually cross the road. Why are there school zones on major roads where the rear of the school is used for pick up and drop offs, including buses. Again, you go through these zones every day and never see a child crossing the road.
These things lead to people ignoring the safety message in crucial areas because they think it is all just a waste. Put the zones where they are needed and not just place them in every school willy nilly. If you are really interested in safety you could also get parents to stop double parking and stopping on pedestrian crossings to let the little darlings off. That would be safety.

By: Athol Munro

Athol Munro — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 10:34:12 +0000

With so many signs competing for drivers attention – along with so many areas designated school zones it is obvious observing people you realise that many continue at the normal speeds not realising they are in a school zone. Drive down Pennant Hills Rd in Sydney to see the fluctuating zones over just a few kilometres to appreciate the problem (drivers also have to be aware of the massive amount going on around them and still not stray above the limit for large parts of many roads AND read all the other road signs as well.
Why do we need High School zones at 40 kmh when most students drive and should be alert at this stage of their lives to co-existing with motor vehicles as they do at other times during the day and night?

By: Kellie

Kellie — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 06:07:44 +0000

I agree with Phil, saying the 40km speed zone on Pennent Hill Hwy is ridiculous, yes high school with enough fencing and an over head walkway.

I turned right onto Sunny holt Rd from a side street and I didn’t see the sign. I’m sorry. I was too busy watching for the cars going straight ahead so I could turn right – missing the school zone sign. I just wonder if that sign was flashing would it have caught my attention and saved me $324. I never drive at that time of day – it was just a one off. I forgot where I was and was doing the speed of 70 in a 40 school zone. I still don’t think its fair, it wasn’t even a public holiday, but that’s revenue.

Now that I have school aged kids I’m never on the road – we walk!

By: Dee

Dee — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 03:34:35 +0000

Why can’t they paint the road surface (like they do for bus lanes). There are too many signs to read on the sides of the and this becomes overload to the point where people do no read them. If you are in an unfamilar area it is easy to miss. But if the road was painted for the duration of the school zone then all the car driver would have to do is check the time. Yes the cost would be big but they are our kids…..