Too many flout limits, say police, as key areas identified

MORE than 10 motorists a day are being caught flouting school zone limits in Townsville, the latest figures show.

Townsville Road Policing Command officer- in- charge Senior Sergeant Brendan White said Weir State School, Oonoonba State School and Townsville Grammar School were key areas of concern.

“These schools are located on main thoroughfares,” he said. “They are located in busy areas where there are a lot of parents dropping their children off as well as motorists travelling through.”

Sen- Sgt White said police issued 55 fines during the first five days of the school year across the Townsville district.

He said half of those motorists recorded speeds between 13km/ h and 20km/ h above the speed limit.

“That’s a concern as well,” he said. “Children may duck out on the road or misjudge traffic but if motorists maintain the speed limit they can help prevent a tragedy.”

Sen- Sgt White said drivers who ignored school zone speed limits put the lives of children at risk.

“The 40km/ h zones will be heavily policed,” he said. “The safety of all road users is a priority and police will be out in force to help keep our children safe.’’

Townsville Grammar School principal Richard Fairley said it was never acceptable to break the school zone speed limit.

“Although police haven’t made any contact with me in regard to speeding past the school, I am aware that police do have a presence in Paxton St from time to time,” he said.

“During the high stakes peak period in the morning and the afternoon, all schools share that challenge.

“Our school has an extended boundary from Landsborough St to Burke St so there is a significant distance that allows for people to lose concentration because they are driving a distance past the school, which is no excuse.”

Mr Fairley said the school supported any police presence.

“The police presence is appreciated and it is a very powerful deterrent,” he said.

Sen- Sgt White said police would continue to conduct stationary speed checks as well as keeping a close eye on any parking issues.

“Plan your journey and make sure you know what school zones are along the way and pay attention to the time,” he said.

“We pull people over all the time who had no idea they were passing through the 40km/ h zone at school time.”

Sen- Sgt White said police had also conducted patrols outside Annandale State School to address the issue of parents double- parking at pick- up and drop- off times.

“We see an improvement when we are there but when we are not we get reports that the problem returns,” he said.

“In terms of drop- off and pick- up, parents may take comfort over safety. But they need to park appropriately and walk their child to the gate. Do what’s right and don’t put your children’s and other children’s lives at risk.”

A Department of Transport and Main Roads ( TMR) spokesman said the safety of road users, particularly young children, was a top priority.

“We work closely with councils, schools and the community to ensure students are as safe as possible when coming to and from their school,” he said.

TMR statistics reveal that from January 1 to October 31, last year, 500 school zone speeding infringements were issued by the Queensland police service in Townsville.