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Danny O'Brien urges Gippsland motorists to respect school speed zones and slow down during term times

With summer ending, Danny O'Brien, representing Gippsland South, reminds drivers to respect school speed zones. Reduced speeds during term time improve safety, underscoring the need for adherence to save lives.

By news@gippsland - 23rd January 2024 - Back to News

With the summer holidays at an end and school children right across the state returning to their classrooms, The Nationals Member for Gippsland South Danny O'Brien is reminding motorists that school speed zones are back in force. Mr O'Brien highlighted that the reduced speed limits are enacted around schools between 8 - 9.30am and 2.30 - 4pm every weekday during Victorian school terms, except for public holidays.

Lower speed limits during Victorian school terms improve safety at peak times. Even minor speed reductions substantially reduce stopping distance and pedestrian fatality risks

School speed safety

Mr O'Brien said, "With the increase in foot and road traffic that comes with the morning pick-up and drop-off it's crucial that motorists slow down and be alert around schools. While we all do our best to educate our children around road safety practices, the excitement of starting school or seeing friends after several weeks can easily lead to distractions and mistakes. Reducing your speed is a small action you can take to reduce risk and help keep our children safe."
According to research conducted at the Queensland University for Technology*, a car travelling at 50km/h will typically require 36 metres to stop, while a car travelling at 40km/h will stop in 27 metres while also significantly reducing the risk of death if a pedestrian is struck.

Mr O'Brien said while 5 or 10km/h might not seem like a huge deal, it was clear that reducing speed reduces risk. "Save yourself the fine and maybe even a life by slowing down and ensuring you are travelling at a speed that will allow you to stop suddenly if needed." You can read more about it by visiting Pedestrian Safety website.

Pictures from 9 News Australia YouTube channel.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com