The Rockliff Liberal Government continues to take action to protect our vulnerable young people from harm around our road network.
Today we are launching this year’s ‘Love 40’ campaign, a key component of the Towards Zero Action Plan 2020-2024 to remind drivers to slow down in school zones and around school buses.
School zones are set with a 40km/h speed limit to reduce the risk of road trauma for students and their families.
Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Michael Ferguson, said young children are still learning how to be safe on and around our roads.
“It is our duty as drivers to take extra care on the roads, as children do not always keep this in mind,” Mr Ferguson said.
“The most dangerous part of a child’s journey to school is when they are getting in or out of a school bus or car.
“Since 2018, 19 children aged between 4 and 15 were involved in crashes in school zones.
“By slowing to below 40 the chances of injury from blunt force trauma from vehicle impact is greatly reduced and the chances of survival greatly increased.
“Don’t be the one saying, ‘I just couldn’t stop in time'”.
For those who do not follow road rules and ‘Love 40’, there will be speed cameras and police officers out in force.
Mr Ferguson said it only took one driver to ignore the road rules and cause lifelong heartbreak.
“The more we can do to create safe road environments, the safer our communities will be,” he said.
