Sergeant Nicholas Park from Lake Illawarra's Highway Patrol at a school zone in Oak Flats. Picture: DYLAN ROBINSON
MOTORISTS have been reminded about the penalties and potentially life-threatening implications of speeding or committing other traffic offences within school zones.
Following the return of students to schools, Lake Illawarra Police will be out enforcing these laws.
The Lake Illawarra Local Area Command's Highway Patrol supervisor, Sergeant Nicholas Park, said motorists needed to be aware that school zones existed and the speed limit within them was 40km/h.
These warnings have been reiterated following the region's recent wild weather.
"The government's made it clear that school zone safety is a priority and police are well aware of enforcing school zone safety," he said.
"We take it seriously and coming into the new school term will be dedicating resources to enforce them.
"We will be out regularly and actively enforcing all school zone laws.
"There are more and more flashing lights to assist, but it's surprising how many parents we catch doing the wrong thing in school zones, with kids in the car.
"We have a very low tolerance of doing the wrong thing in school zones."
Sergeant Park also wished to remind drivers that there were penalties for other offences.
"There are also demerit points for parking offences in school zones," he said.
"We get a lot of complaints about parking illegally in school zones. It affects traffic and makes conditions more dangerous. There are also high penalties for using a mobile while in a school zone."
Nearly a quarter (24 per cent) of all collisions with pedestrians or cyclists occurred when children were travelling to and from school, according to GIO claim statistics.
The most dangerous hour of the day was 3-4pm, with one in eight collisions with pedestrians or cyclists occurring then.
Duncan Bone from GIO Personal Insurance said there was still group of motorists who did not believe they would have an accident.
"Combine speed limit confusion, the stresses of peak-hour and excited kids, and you've got a recipe for danger," he said.