Northern Beaches Council is urging motorists to drive carefully around school zones and obey the road rules with children returning to school from the end of January.
With more than 80 schools on the Northern Beaches, back to school will be a busy and challenging time.
Council deputy general manager Ben Taylor said everyone has a role to play to ensure children get to and from school safely.
“Children can sometimes behave unpredictably around traffic.
“We are asking the Northern Beaches community, especially motorists and parents, to take special care around schools, but also shops, parks and other areas where children may be.
“Children learn from their parents when it comes to safe and considerate behaviour so please stay off your phone when driving, be aware of the immediate environment around you and stick to the speed limit,” Mr Taylor said
Northern Beaches Council is reminding motorists to:
- slow down and take care around schools and pedestrian crossings
- always park and turn legally around schools, park no longer than two minutes in a ‘Kiss and Drop’ zone and avoid dangerous manoeuvres like U-turns
- park considerately even if it means walking further to the school gate and never double park
- drop children off and pick them up on the school side of the road with children exiting the vehicle on the kerb side
- talk to your children about road safety and to ‘Stop, Look, Listen and Think’ every time they cross the road
- if walking children to school always hold their hand up to the age of eight
- if your child is cycling, make sure they wear a helmet and use cycleways and shared paths where available.
- obey school zone speed restrictions and the 40 km/h speed limit for passing buses
- look out for buses pulling out and children alighting from buses
- be aware of cyclists
- do not use a mobile phone when driving
- use car seats where appropriate
Council rangers and parking offices will patrol schools in the morning and afternoon, with additional patrols scheduled for schools where parking issues are a problem.