School zones - No apologies, no excuses
When it comes to child safety, Sutherland Shire Council makes no apologies for fining drivers who break the law around schools and school zones.
If you are caught endangering a child by parking illegally in a school zone you will be fined. Illegal parking in school zones kills children. Parking offences in school zones carry heavier fines and loss of demerit points.
The Information on this page is available on printable brochures below.
More information is also available on the NSW Roads and Traffic Authority web page 'Road safety issues around schools'.
Know your Parking Signs and Rules
No Stopping
 |
|
What does it mean?
You cannot stop in this area FOR ANY REASON.
Why is it there?
To keep sight lines clear for drivers AND children so both have more time to avoid crashes. |
No Parking
 |
|
What does it mean?
You can stop in a NO PARKING zone for a maximum of two minutes to drop off and pick up passengers. You must stay within three metres of your vehicle at all times.
Why is it there?
To provide a safe place for older children to be set down and picked up without endangering other children. |
Bus Zone
 |
|
What does it mean?
You must not stop or park in a bus zone unless you are driving a bus.
Why is it there?
To prove a safe place for large buses to set down and pick up. Cars parking in bus zones put lives at risk by forcing buses out of "their" safety zone. |
Other common rules
Pedestrian Crossings
You must not stop within 20 metres before a pedestrian crossing or 10 after a crossing unless there is a control sign permitting parking.
Why?
To ensure that children can be clearly seen by vehicles approaching the crossing.
Pedestrian crossings
Footpaths & Nature Strips
You may not stop on any footpath or nature strip, or even a driveway crossing a footpath or nature strip FOR ANY REASON.
Why?
You could easily run over a child or force pedestrians onto the road to get around you
Driveways
You may stop over the entrance of a driveway to pick up or set down passengers, but you may not wait there or leave your vehicle unattended
Intersections
You must not stop within 10 Metres of an intersection
Why?
To ensure that there is a clear view of children crossing the road at the intersection.
Intersections
Double parking
You may not stop on the road adjacent to another vehicle at any time even to drop off or pick up passengers.
Why?
Double parking forces other cars to go around you causing traffic congestion and reduces the view of drivers and children crossing the road.
Double parking
School Parking - Safety Tips
At Sutherland Shire Council we want to try to ensure that no child will be hit by a car while going to or from School, but to keep things safe we need your help. Know the road conditions around your school and teach your children to be safe around traffic.
Schools are areas where there is a lot of interaction between cars and pedestrians; your children. Children are small, hard to see, behave unpredictably, and are extremely vulnerable. Their lack of road experience means it is difficult for them to judge dangerous situations. Boys are twice as likely to be involved in child pedestrian casualties as girls and children 10-14 years have the highest rate of child pedestrian casualties. (RTA)
You need to take extra care when driving and parking in and around school zones, even when you think there are no children around.
Seven ways to reduce your child's vulnerability (RTA)
- Set a good example. Parents/care givers are the best road safety teachers.
- Children up to eight years old should hold an adult's hand on the footpath, in the car park or when crossing the road.
- Children up to ten years old should be actively supervised around traffic and should hold an adult's hand when crossing the road.
- Take the time to make sure your children are aware of, understand and follow traffic safety regulations when they are walking.
- Teach your children to be aware of their environment: for example, wearing headphones or getting distracted by playing with friends on the way to or from school can make them more vulnerable to accidents.
- Make sure your own driving and parking are not endangering your own or others' children. Obey all parking signs and speed limits, and always be on the lookout for the unexpected. Many traffic safety issues around schools arise from the driving and parking behaviour of parents.
- Never call your child across the road.
Picking up your children after school - Have a plan
Plan with your child how you will collect them. When and where you will be after school? Where should your child wait? Make sure they know not to try and get into your vehicle while it is still in traffic, even if you are stopped, they should wait until you have parked. Your school may have some arrangements in place to help you collect your children.
Contacting your council
If you have a problem with illegal parking at your school or if you think there is a need for changes to the traffic conditions around your school phone or contact Sutherland Shire Council with the details.
You can also find out more about the Australian Road Rules and other road safety information on the RTA website www.rta.nsw.gov.au
updated 3 March 2008