The Andrews Labor Government is ramping up efforts to keep Victorian kids, parents and teachers safe with reduced speed limits and new electronic signage in school zones.
Minister for Roads and Minister for Road Safety and the TAC Jaala Pulford today visited Napoleons Primary School near Ballarat to meet with children ahead of their return to school.
Speed limits have dropped to either 40km/h or 60km/h outside schools between 8am and 9:30am and from 2:30pm to 4pm.
Young children can be unpredictable, fast, and difficult to see and a small reduction in speed can dramatically increase the chance of a child surviving being hit by a car.
The Labor Government is continuing its focus on improving safety at schools across the state with upgrades for 39 schools on high-risk roads being rolled out as part of the $5 million School Area Safety Fund.
Eight schools across Melbourne and regional Victoria have had new flashing speed signs switched on in time for the start of Term 1.
The $5 million-dollar School Area Safety Fund package is in addition to the $18.9 million package to continue the School Crossing Supervisor Program across Victoria.
As noted by Minister for Roads and Minister for Road Safety and the TAC Jaala Pulford
"It's everyone's job to keep kids safe on our roads, so slow down, look up and be alert around schools."
"Young children can be unpredictable – reducing your speed increases your ability to stop and reduces the impact if there is a collision."
"We want to make sure every child, parent and teacher is safe as they travel to and from school, so we're investing in making high-risk school zones safer across our state."
