As Tasmanian children prepare to return to school next week, authorities are urging drivers to be extra cautious in school zones.
The ‘Love 40’ campaign aims to keep children safe by reminding motorists to stick to the 40km/h speed limit.
Minister for Transport Eric Abetz and Chair of the Road Safety Advisory Council Scott Tilyard launched this year’s iteration of the campaign at Blackmans Bay Primary School today.
“We love our children and that is why we’ve got that 40-kilometre speed limit during the peak periods of school, coming to school and leaving school,” Minister Abetz said.
“85,000 Tasmanian children come and go to school every day when school is on. So [it is] very important that we keep our children safe.”
RSAC Chair Scott Tilyard said in the last five years, 13 serious accidents have occurred in Tasmanian school zones, including one fatality.
“Unfortunately our school crossing patrol officers too often report bad driving behaviour in and around schools,” he said.
“Whether it’s people who aren’t paying attention or drivers who are going too fast through school zones.”
“That, of course, creates an unacceptable level of risk for our school children.”
Tilyard said this year’s campaign will feature “a myriad of excuses” that drivers use to justify speeding in school zones, using primary school aged children to mimic the drivers.
“It’s up to us as adults, as responsible road users, to make sure that we do the right thing in our school zones … [and] also around school buses.”
