Page 120 - Week 01 - Wednesday, 13 February 2019
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Another feature of ACT schools, which sets us apart from other jurisdictions, is the all-day, 8 am to 4 pm, operation of our school zones. One of the reasons that other jurisdictions use measures such as flashing lights is because their school zones only operate during the morning and afternoon peak, and the flashing lights help to remind motorists that the school zones are in operation during these times.
The all-day operation of ACT school zones recognises that students may be present at any time during the day. Kids can be unpredictable as pedestrians, and all-day 40-kilometre school zones recognise the importance of road safety in these environments throughout the day, not just during the peak periods. All-day school zones send a consistent message to motorists, so that they do not have to check the time before entering a school zone during the middle of the day, for example.
The Justice and Community Safety Directorate and ACT Policing run education campaigns to remind motorists about ACT school zones throughout the year, with reminder campaigns as school terms begin. On the matter of speeding fines in school zones, drivers who ignore speed limits and put our kids in danger will continue to be fined. I fully support Access Canberra and ACT Policing in undertaking school zone enforcement when it comes to speed. The government is doing a lot to support and improve road safety for children travelling to and from school, and we will continue to invest strongly in this area as it is of absolute, paramount importance to the government and to any family.
Through the parliamentary agreement, the government has already committed to developing individual traffic management plans for every school. Work began with TCCS on this program in 2018 and development of individual plans will be progressed throughout the year. TCCS will work with schools to develop safe school travel plans that will look at each school environment in its entirety. TCCS will work collaboratively within the school community, including with school executives, teachers, parents and the broader community, to develop solutions that meet the needs of the school and local community.
This approach will help to ensure that the safe school travel plans are relevant to each school community and will help to create community ownership to ensure long-term, sustainable behaviour change. Once the delivery of this initiative commences, it will ensure that safety issues are identified and prioritised around all 140 schools across the territory.
The government has already made strong commitments and will continue to improve road safety for children travelling to and from school. The government will always invest heavily in this area. I commend my amendment to Ms Lee’s motion to the Assembly.
MR PETTERSSON (Yerrabi) (11.04): It is not often that members of the opposition call on a government to expand a program that we have conceived, developed and delivered. But on this one we are willing to take credit where credit is due.
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