School zones – road safety initiatives
Standardised operation of school zone times
There are currently more than 2000 school zones across Queensland. The operating times for each school zone are set by the road owners – the Department of Transport and Main Roads or local councils. This means there are many variations of the operating times within the same towns and suburbs, making it difficult for motorists to remember what times they are required to slow down.
In order to assist motorists driving within school zones or travelling between local government areas, school zone times will be standardised in Queensland during 2012. The 'New rules around schools' campaign launched in January 2012 to educate the community about these changes to school zone times and signage being implemented.
The new school zone operating times for all schools in Queensland will be standardised to 7–9 am and 2–4 pm, unless otherwise specifically signed. This will come into effect gradually in 2012 as signs are upgraded.
By 16 April 2012, all school zones across south-east Queensland will be standardised to 7–9 am and 2–4 pm.
For areas outside south-east Queensland, the department is speaking with schools and local councils to determine the appropriate times for each council area. By 9 July 2012 all schools outside south-east Queensland will have standardised school zones for their council area.
To cater for school and regional circumstances, if the standardised times do not suit the times that children arrive and depart a school, exemptions to this policy will be considered and extensions to the times may be granted in certain circumstances.
The relevant road authority will assist your school in fully understanding the circumstances that may be considered for an extension of the times and how to apply.
For schools in south-east Queensland if your school zone is on a local council road, please contact your local council. If the school zone is on a state road, please contact the Department of Transport and Main Roads.
For schools outside south-east Queensland, you should contact your local council who will apply to the Department of Transport and Main Roads for exemption to these times.
Please note: until a school zone has new times signed, any existing times will apply and be enforced by police.
All-day school zones at split-campus schools
Split-campus schools often require children to cross a road to travel to classes during the school day. Because students are required to cross the road throughout the day, not just before and after school, 'all day' school zones will be progressively installed at all split-campus schools in Queensland during 2012.
All-day school zones will operate between 7 am–4 pm on school days. All-dat school zone signs will have enhanced (flashing light) that will flash all day, will be installed at each split-campus school. The flashing light school zone signs will alert motorists of the operation of the all day school zone.
School zones on multi-lane roads
Schools which are located on multi-lane roads will now be eligible for the installation of a school zone. Previously, school zones were not permitted to be installed on multi-lane roads. However some schools have already had the school zones installed to address a specific road safety concern.
The department is making it mandatory to install vehicle-activated signs at school zones on multi-lane roads. The vehicle-activated signs will display a warning message to motorists travelling over the school zone speed limit, to slow down. These signs were found to be the most effective method to alert drivers to the school zone and in effect make them slow down in the recent trial conducted by the department. Queensland schools will see these signs progressively rolled out at multi-lane school zones during 2012.
If your school is on a multi-lane road and you would like to have a school zone installed please contact you local Road Safety Manager.
| Region | Manager | Phone | Postal address |
|---|
| Northern |
Jim Graham |
W: 4720 7380 |
PO Box 1293, Townsville Qld 4810 |
| Central |
Colin Edmonston |
W: 4931 1651 |
PO Box 5096, Red Hill Rockhampton Qld 4701 |
| SEQ – North |
Stuart Gardner |
W: 3370 2806 |
PO Box 869, Nundah Qld 4012 |
| SEQ – South |
Sandra Poulton |
W: 3412 0620 |
PO Box 4748, Loganholme DC Qld 4129 |
| Southern |
Alan Dixon |
W: 4660 2707 |
PO Box 204, Warwick Qld 4370 |
