School zones and speed – a dangerous mix for kids Suncorp Insurance research

Wednesday, 27 April 2011
School zones and speed – a dangerous mix for kids
Suncorp Insurance research* has revealed almost one-in-ten Queensland drivers (9 per
cent) admit to speeding through restricted school speed zones and close to one-third (31 per
cent) admit they sometimes speed to get to work or home sooner.
“Alarmingly the research also shows that almost one-quarter of Queensland motorists (23
per cent) believe going less than 10km/h over the speed limit isn‟t really speeding.
“With almost one-third of Queensland drivers admitting they speed during the hours schools
generally start and finish and one-quarter believing exceeding the limit by anything up to 10
km/h over is not speeding - it‟s unsettling for both the driver and very dangerous for
pedestrians - especially a child pedestrian” said Suncorp Insurance Corporate Affairs
Manager, Mike Sopinski.
“With state schools returning from holidays today it‟s disturbing that a certain element of
Queensland motorists are prepared to ignore school speed zones and endanger the lives of
children who are who are still learning about road safety and what to do around cars and
busy streets.
A recent Queensland Police Service blitz on 40km/h and 50km/h zones across Brisbane and
the Gold Coast resulted in more than 3000 speeding motorists being caught by marked and
covert cameras. The cameras detected 71 vehicles out of 1000 (7 per cent) speeding
through 40km/h zones when the enforcement started in mid-December last year.
Restricted speed zones when school’s in
“Motorists need to be aware that school speed zone restrictions come back into force with
the return of school each term and are applied during the morning and afternoon of all
school days. However, some motorists over school holiday periods may forget about the
need to observe the restricted speed limits around schools.
“Motorists are also reminded that in some instances lower speed restrictions may apply all
day and that severe penalties for exceeding designated speed limits are enforced by police,”
said Mr Sopinski.
“Pedestrians are not only our largest group of road users but also our most vulnerable, as
they have no protection if they are hit by a vehicle,” said Mr Sopinski.
Just in a hurry
“More than one in ten Queensland drivers (11 per cent) admit to speeding most of the time –
and two-thirds (66 per cent) admit they speed some of the time.
“Most Queensland drivers (67 per cent) claim they are sometimes uncertain of the speed
limit because they vary so much.Page 2 of 2
“While changes in speed limits are common especially throughout metropolitan areas, the
most important thing drivers need to remember is to slow down (to 40km/h or less) when
driving through areas of high pedestrian activity, particularly school zones.
“Children are especially vulnerable in traffic – by virtue of their size they are sometimes hard
to see, and their movements can be unpredictable,” said Mr Sopinski.
Queensland School Danger times
According to the Queensland Injury Surveillance Unit (QISU), the most dangerous times for
school age child pedestrians is weekdays between 3 and 6 pm but particularly the hour
immediately after school.
Key findings from the Suncorp Insurance study on school zones and speed:
In a hurry: almost one-third (31 per cent) of Queensland drivers speed to get to work
or home sooner.
Not speeding?: almost one-quarter (23 per cent) of Queensland drivers do not
believe travelling up to 10 km/h over the limit is speeding
Ignoring school speed zones: almost one in ten drivers (9 per cent) admit to
ignoring restricted speed limits such as outside schools
Confused: most Queensland drivers (67 per cent) say they are sometimes unsure of
speed limits because „they vary so much
Their own private derby: more than one in ten Queensland drivers (11 per cent)
admit to speeding most of the time