As students return to the classroom from tomorrow, a new road safety campaign is urging Tasmanian drivers to make safe driving around schools a top priority.
The new Love 40 campaign titled Grow Up, there’s No Excuse in a School Zone, is being launched today. The campaign features children dressed and acting like adults, delivering familiar excuses that drivers often give for not following the rules in the school zone.
Some of these excuses include:
“I was only a bit over and had a Pilates class to get to”
“Ah, c’mon, it was 9.29am, there were no kids around”
“I need to get on site, got a big job on”
“Oops, I wasn’t concentrating”
“I was only going 42km, what’s the problem?”
“As we start another school year, it’s imperative for all drivers to remember that road safety doesn’t just apply during the first week of school, it’s an ongoing, year-round commitment,” said the Chair of the Road Safety, Scott Tilyard.
“We often receive reports from our School Crossing Patrol Officers about incidents where drivers are either speeding or not paying attention in school zones,” said Mr Tilyard.
Between 2020 and 2024, 13 pedestrians and cyclists aged 17 and under were involved in crashes in school zones, tragically including one fatality.
“As well as slowing to 40 kilometres an hour in school zones at certain times of the day, motorists must also remember to slow to 40 kilometres an hour near school buses when their lights a flashing – it’s the law,” said Mr Tilyard.
“No matter the circumstances – whether you’re running late or facing other pressures – unsafe driving in a school zone is never acceptable.
“I urge all drivers to prioritise safety in school zones to ensure a safe and successful school year for everyone,” said Mr Tilyard.
The new campaign can be found here to https://youtu.be/6Vpwq-39eCo and will feature on television, radio and digital media platforms.