Motorists are being reminded to slow down and park legally in school zones as the school year starts.
"Slowing down will help to reduce the incidence of children being killed or injured by motor vehicles," said Council's Road Safety Officer, Ms Helen Carpenter.
"Children are frequently hit by motor vehicles because they are smaller and less visible than adults and they can behave unpredictably in the road environment."
Ms Carpenter reminded motorists that 40km per hour school zones protect children on their way to and from school.
"Statistics show that if a car hits a pedestrian at 64km/h there is an 85% chance the pedestrian will die. This rate drops to 45% at 45km/h and the chance of death is reduced to five percent at 32km/h."
School zones operate when the highest number of children are moving: from 8am to 9.30am, and 2.30pm to 4pm during school terms. Behaviours such as double parking, illegal U-turns and parking in a bus zone or driveway also put children at risk.
"Council Rangers monitor illegal parking in school zones in the morning and afternoon, in marked and unmarked cars, to help make school zones safe and fatality-free," said Ms Carpenter. "We make no apology for issuing infringements to keep children safe."
Remember:
• Take extra care in 40km/h zones
• Parking legally means parking safely
• Park a block or so away and walk to meet your child. Hold hands with children under 10 years of age.
• Use the safety door (the door closest to the kerb) for getting kids in and out of cars
• Slow down near a school crossing or pedestrian crossing
• Your children learn safe behaviour from you.
"Running late is no excuse for speeding or parking illegally around school zones", added Ms Carpenter.
For more information on parking safely in school zones and common offences, visit www.ballina.nsw.gov.au/parking
