QLD to standardise school zone times...

[Jim Goose]

Standardised operation of school zone times

There are currently more than 2000 school zones across Queensland. The operating times for each school zone are set by the road owners – the Department of Transport and Main Roads or local councils. This means there are many variations of the operating times within the same towns and suburbs, making it difficult for motorists to remember what times they are required to slow down.

In order to assist motorists driving within school zones or travelling between local government areas, school zone times will be standardised in Queensland during 2012. The 'New rules around schools' campaign launched in January 2012 to educate the community about these changes to school zone times and signage being implemented.

The new school zone operating times for all schools in Queensland will be standardised 7–9 am and 2–4 pm, unless specifically signed. This will come into effect gradually in 2012 as signs are upgraded.

By 16 April 2012, all school zones across south-east Queensland will be upgraded to 7–9 am and 2–4 pm.

For areas outside south-east Queensland, the department is speaking with schools and local councils to determine the appropriate times for each local government jurisdiction. By 9 July 2012 all schools outside south-east Queensland will have standardised school zones for their council area.

To cater for school and regional circumstances, if the standardised times do not suit the times that children arrive and depart a school, exemptions to this policy will be considered and extensions to the times may be granted in certain circumstances.

The relevant road authority will assist your school in fully understanding the circumstances that may be considered for an extension of the times and how to apply.

For schools in South East Queensland if your school zone is on a local council road, please contact your local council. If the school zone is on a state road, please contact the Department of Transport and Main Roads.

For schools outside South East Queensland, you should contact your local council who will apply to the Department of Transport and Main Roads for exemption to these times.

Please note: until a school zone has the new times signed, existing times and signage will be in force.
School zones at split campus schools

Split-campus schools often require children to cross a road to travel to classes during the school day. Because students are required to cross the road throughout the day, not just before and after school, 'all day' school zones will be progressively installed at all split-campus schools in Queensland during 2012.

'All day' school zones will operate 7 am–4 pm on school days. Flashing light school zone signs, that will flash all day, will be installed at each split-campus school. The flashing light school zone signs will alert motorists of the operation of the all day school zone.
Multi-lane school zones

Schools which are located on multi-lane roads will now be eligible for the installation of a school zone. Previously, school zones were not permitted to be installed on multi-lane roads. However some schools have already had the school zones installed to address a specific road safety concern.

All multi-lane schools will now display a vehicle activated school zone sign. The sign will display a warning message to motorists travelling over the school zone speed limit, to slow down. These signs were found to be the most effective method to alert drivers to the school zone and in effect make them slow down in the recent trial conducted by the department. Queensland schools will see these signs progressively rolled out at multi-lane school zones during 2012.

If your school is on a multi-lane road and you would like to have a school zone installed please contact you local Road Safety Manager.

http://tmr.qld.gov.au/schoolzones

While i agree with school zones and slower speeds around schools, the times are rediculas! 2hrs in the morning and 2hrs in the arvo especially? A lot of schools are pretty much empty within 30 to 40mins of ending.. why are they having such a big duration??

I wont say it....

[MITCHAY]

It's 8am to 4pm here even at colleges FFS!

[cs123]

Originally Posted by Jim Goose

http://tmr.qld.gov.au/schoolzones

While i agree with school zones and slower speeds around schools, the times are rediculas! 2hrs in the morning and 2hrs in the arvo especially? A lot of schools are pretty much empty within 30 to 40mins of ending.. why are they having such a big duration??

I wont say it....

If they were serious they would have electronic speed signs with flashing amber warning lights when school zones were in effect.

[Franco Cozzo]

I'm not sure what the morning times are in Victoria, but I know in the afternoon its 2:30-4PM.

[Jim Goose]

Originally Posted by cs123

If they were serious they would have electronic speed signs with flashing amber warning lights when school zones were in effect.

Apparently they will be installed progressively across the state, we have quite a few here in Townsville which also have a flashing 40 sign.

[Matty4]

Originally Posted by Big Damo

I'm not sure what the morning times are in Victoria, but I know in the afternoon its 2:30-4PM.

Morning times here in Vic are 8.00 - 9.30am.
I whole-heartedly agree with school zone limits too, but there needs to some more realistic thought about the times. Every primary school in the state will have all kids in classrooms by 9.00am, so the danger to them after that time has dimished greatly, to be almost non-existant.
Any student arriving after that time would most likely be escorted into the school by a parent/guardian to explain their lateness, thus the risk is reduced again.

The same goes in the afternoon, at 2.30pm they are all still in the classroom and any of them leaving early would be escorted by a parent/guardian anyway.

Make them reflect the real danger times and people would respect them more, abit like roadwork speed limits.

[GS608]

Originally Posted by cs123

If they were serious they would have electronic speed signs with flashing amber warning lights when school zones were in effect.

Most on the Gold Coast do..however half the time the lights are broken on one side so you fly through at the normal limit only to look in your mirror once you're passed the zone to realise you were 20 over.

[casabonka]

My school (10yrs ago) started at 8.30 and finished at 2.30, so I can understand the larger time blocks.

[2011G6E]

Why two hours? Easy...a lot of schools don't completely empty every single day at finishing time...there's school sports, there's after school activities sometimes at some schools, etc. Make it a standard time across the board and people will get the idea a lot easier.

Is it really that important that your busy and hectic day can't stand to be slowed down for one or two hundred meters at certain times of the day?

[bigdude1011]

In the ACT, the school zones go all day (8-4), and even high schools (7-10) and colleges (11-12) have them.

[aussie muscle]

Originally Posted by bigdude1011

In the ACT, the school zones go all day (8-4), and even high schools (7-10) and colleges (11-12) have them.

i noticed that. it's kinda annoying when you go past them and there's absolutely nobody around. keeps things safe if they go out at lunchtime i guess, but we weren't allowed to leave school grounds until knock off time.

[Mr Hardware]

ARGH

when i was at primary school, if you were there even 5 mins after the bell, something was REALLY wrong.

[Uncle Niceguy]

yeah i think the times are quite sensible reason being some kids might want to stay at the library till 4pm then ride there push-bike home un-supervised i know there are a lot of high school students doing this as i was doing it as well plus you have sports training and extra-curriclum activities too which can take a lot of time up as well so imo having it going till 4pm is a very smart idea.

[Ben73]

I think they should all have a standard time with flashing lights.

I remember when I was at my year 11 and 12 school we still had a 40 zone. I think its unnecessary since at quitting time 90% of the cars driving on that road were the school students leaving the school. Plus since everyone at the school was of the driving age, they should have road sense.

[TheSneakiness]

I'm for school zones at Primary Schools only. Standardising the zone times across the state is also a great idea.

Against school zones at High Schools. If kids at that age have no idea how to cross a road safely they deserve it.