Drivers urged to obey traffic rules as students return to school

Published on 01 February 2017

Mildura Rural City Council is urging drivers to take extra care around school crossings as students return to school across the district this week.

Portfolio Councillor for Community Safety Simon Clemence said illegal parking near school zones was a major contributor to road safety issues near schools for Council.

“Parents disobeying parking rules is the number one issue for us around school crossings as it puts children in danger,” Cr Clemence said.

“It causes unnecessary congestion in pick-up and drop-off areas and leads to drivers parking where they shouldn’t, such as encroaching on footpaths where students are walking.”

Council’s Road Safety Officer and Chairman of Community Roadsafe Mildura Chris Davis echoed Cr Clemence’s comments.

“Unpredictable driver behaviour is a major road safety issue, and when parking behaviour causes others to drive unpredictably to get around poor parking, that’s when crashes occur, and that’s when pedestrians are put at risk,” Mr Davis said.

Cr Clemence urged drivers to be patient and obey parking rules around school zones.

“If a pick-up or drop-off area is full, or if you need to park and there are no spaces available, look a little further along the road for a park and walk to pick up your children,” he said.

Cr Clemence also urged schools to adopt Healthy Together Mildura’s Ride and Stride program, not only to avoid parking issues around schools, but improve health outcomes for students.

The Ride and Stride program involves the establishment of designated spaces a short distance from schools where parents can safely drop off their children at specific times.

Children can then walk or ride to and from school with other students also using the zone.

The program is already operating successfully at Red Cliffs and Irymple Primary Schools.

From this week, speed restrictions are in place outside schools, limiting speeds to either 40km/h or 60km/h from 8am to 9.30am or 2.30pm to 4pm Monday to Friday. 

Media enquiries 
Ben Piscioneri
p) (03) 5018 8689 
e) ben.piscioneri@mildura.vic.gov.au