School road safety over haul

The Northern Leader highlighted school road safety last year with a photograph of Tarrawanna Public School crossing supervisor Kerry McGoldrick, school principal Jenni Eshman, Keira MP David Campbell and students Rhys Flahive and Ainsley Kerr.

SAFETY at school zones across NSW will undergo a major shake-up with state-of-the-art technology and new education programs.

The northern suburbs is expected to share in a state wide $300 million safety package under a plan announced earlier this week.

The five-point plan includes electronic safety alert systems, incorporating flashing 40km/h signs and lights, a combination of 50 fixed and mobile speed cameras, rotated between schools, increased fines and demerit points for driving offences in school zones and a drop-off-and-go, pick-up-and-go' system to ease traffic congestion.

The Roads and Traffic Authority will call for expressions of interest to develop the new electronic school safety alert system.

Roads Minister Eric Roozendaal said the trail of school flashing lights had found the existing technology could reduce speeds but was unreliable.

"We can do better than the flashing lights that were trailed we need to put in place better and more effective technology," Mr Roozendaal said.

"My goal is to have the latest technology as soon as possible. This is not a trial, this technology will roll out across the State on a needs basis, based on expert advice and safety criteria," he said.

In addition 50 speed cameras will be rotated between school zones in the shake-up.

Mr Roozendaal said the cameras would only operate in school zone hours and revenue would be channelled into road safety projects.

"I know the public don't like speed cameras but this school speeding has to stop," he said. "Any school zone could have a camera in it."

New regulations are currently being drafted to combat school road safety and include motorists losing additional demerit points for driving offences committed in school zones during school operating hours.

The Drop-off-and-go, Pick-up-and-go' parking and marshalling system will also be offered to schools across NSW.

Under the system parents volunteer on a roster to greet students arriving at school in cars, open doors and marshal them safely through the school gates.

"This system saves parents the trouble of finding parking, clogging local roads and walking their children to the gate," Mr Roozendaal said.

A new school child safety roundtable will meet on June 21 to discuss further school child safety measures, including a second category of accredited to lollipop people'.

The roundtable will also look at whether school zone hours should be increased because children are spending longer at school sites in before and after school day care.