Driving safely in school zones is imperative to keeping children safe and with children now back at school, we want to address safety in school zones.

Remember:

• Buses are large heavy vehicles that can’t stop quickly;
• Reduce speed to 40km/h when bus lights are flashing, whether the bus is stationary or moving;
• Give way to buses; Watch out for children on footpaths or crossing the road;
• Obey signage around schools including bus, no stopping and no parking zones. Penalties may apply.
• Some driving offences committed within a school zone carry additional demerit points;
• Help young children get on and off a school bus;
• When waiting for the bus, stand at least one step back from the edge of the road; Always meet your child at the bus stop. Never meet them on the opposite side of the road and call them across; and
• Wait until the bus has gone, then choose a safe place to cross the road. Until your child is at least eight years old, hold their hand on the footpath, in the carpark, and when crossing the road. Up until at least ten years old, always supervise your child closely and hold their hand when crossing the road.

Schools are areas where there is a lot of interaction between vehicles and children. Driving safely in these areas is vital for the safety of children, parents, and teachers.

We all have a responsibility to keep every child safe on our roads. Children learn safe road user habits from us, so it is important to model safe pedestrian behaviour.

School Zones times are generally between 8am – 9.30am and 2.30pm – 4pm, Monday to Friday. It is important to check the signs as some rural schools have different times.

Road Rules Awareness Week

Since 2013, Road Rules Awareness Week has given all road users the chance to improve their knowledge of the NSW road rules.

Road Rules Awareness Week, 21 – 27 March 2023, aims to promote and remind road users of the rules that have the biggest impact on reducing road trauma as well as highlight the most misunderstood road rules.

Roundabouts

• If you thought that upon approaching a roundabout the rule is to give way to vehicles on your right, you would be wrong.
• The rule is that a driver must give way to vehicles already in the roundabout.
• Drivers may change lanes in a roundabout (usual rules apply) and just like exiting any road, drivers must indicate left when leaving a roundabout.

Giving way to pedestrians when turning

If a driver is turning at an intersection (left or right), the driver must give way to any pedestrians that are crossing the road the driver is entering.

Mobile phones

Fully licensed drivers and bicycle riders may only use a mobile phone whilst driving/riding to make or answer calls or use the audio function if the phone:

• Is secured in a commercially manufactured mounting device which is fixed to the vehicle and doesn’t obscure the drivers view;
• Can be operated by the driver/rider without touching any part of the phone (e.g. by using Bluetooth or Apple/Android Car Play);

The only exception to this is the use of a drivers aid such as a navigational device providing the device is in a fixed mounting bracket as described above.

Being stationary in a line of traffic does not constitute being parked and the above rules still apply.

Learner, P1, P2 and motorcycle license holders are not permitted to use any function of a phone whilst driving or riding. This includes listening to music being played through the vehicle that originates from the mobile phone.

Merging when lanes end

When driving on a multi-lane road and the left lane ends, the driver in the left lane must merge into the right lane.

If there are no dividing lane lines at the point where merging occurs, the vehicle in front has right of way.

If the lanes are clearly separated by a dividing lane line, then normal rules apply for changing lanes.

Keeping left

On multi-lane roads with speed limits above 80km/h, a driver must not drive in the right lane unless:

• Overtaking;
• Turning right or making a U turn;
• Avoiding an obstacle; and
• Driving in congested traffic.

Using high beam headlights and fog lights

A driver must not use high beam if travelling within 200 metres of another vehicle whether the other vehicle is travelling in the same direction or the opposite direction.

Fog lights are only permitted to be used in fog, mist or other atmospheric conditions that restricts visibility.

U turns

U turns are only permitted in NSW where a driver has a clear view of approaching traffic and the U turn can be made without obstructing traffic. The driver making the U turn must give way to all other vehicles and pedestrians. In NSW U turns are not permitted:

• At an intersection;
• At a break in a dividing strip where a 'No U Turn' sign is displayed; and
• Across double unbroken lines or any other continuous dividing line.

Safe following distances

Drivers must leave enough distance between themselves and the vehicle in front to ensure they can stop in time to avoid a collision.

Safe following distances vary depending on:

• Road and weather conditions;
• The vehicles breaking performance;
• Tyre condition and pressures;
• Speed; and
• Driver's reaction times, to name a few.

A recommended safe distance to the vehicle in front is a three second gap. To achieve this, drivers can pick out a point on the side of the road such as a telegraph pole. When the vehicle in front passes that point, the driver can then count one thousand and one, one thousand and two, and one thousand and three. If your vehicle passes that same point when you have reached one thousand and three, you are approximately three seconds behind the vehicle in front of you.

In poor weather conditions or on gravel roads, the gap should be increased.

School Zones

Roads bordering schools in NSW have designated school zone areas marked by signage. Between the School Zone and End School Zone signs, the speed limit is reduced to 40km/h during school zone times.

These times are between 8am and 9.30am and 2.30pm and 4pm Monday to Friday during school terms including Pupil Free days.

Yellow/Amber traffic light signals

All drivers should be aware that a yellow/amber traffic light signal means stop.

You are only permitted to drive through a yellow/amber light if it is unsafe to stop in the circumstances.

Penalties for not stopping at a yellow/amber light are the same as not stopping at a red light which is currently $469 and 3 demerit points.

For more information on Road Rules Awareness Week and road rules in general, visit Road Rules Awareness Week - Campaigns - NSW Centre for Road Safety

Driving when older

Whether your mode of transport is walking, riding, driving or using a mobility scooter, or you tow a caravan or drive a motorhome, as we get older we need to be aware of how our age and changing health can impact and affect our safety as we travel.

It’s important for seniors to be mindful of possible changes relating to:

• Decreased vision;
• Slower reaction time;
• Diminished ability to reason and remember;
• Reduced strength, flexibility and movement;
• Rise in experiencing confusion and anxiety;
• Impact of some medications; and
• Increase in fragility.

To help ensure everyone’s safety, it’s important to:

• Schedule regular vision and hearing tests;
• Manage medications;
• Stay physically active;
• Understand your limitations; and
• Remove or hide distractions such as mobile phones and concentrate on the road.

Did you know, from the age of 75 you will be required to have a medical assessment every year to keep your licence?

Drivers aged 85 years or over have the option to change from an unrestricted licence to a modified licence. A modified licence allows you to drive certain distances within your local area to access the services you need, such as shopping, community activities and medical appointments. This licence requires an annual medical assessment, but not the on-road driving assessment which is only required if you wish to continue with your unrestricted licence.

National Road Safety Week is coming up in May of this year and everybody in the community needs to play their part.

The pledge is to drive as if your own family members are on the road ahead. Remove any distractions, don’t put others at risk and protect all susceptible road users by slowing down. Together we can make this happen.

Useful Links

• National Road Safety Week 
• NSW Government - Worried about someone's ability to drive?
• National Road Safety Strategy - Older road users
• Northern Beaches Council - Seniors Road Safety
• Transport for NSW - Older road users, transport options 
• Transport for NSW - On the road 65Plus road safety brochure
• Mayo Clinic - Older drivers: 7 tips for driver safety
• University of Wollongong - Older Drivers Resource

Keeping our kids safe around schools is a priority, and we all want to do the right thing to make sure everyone gets home safely.

To provide consistent school road safety messaging across Macarthur; Camden, Campbelltown and Wollondilly Councils have partnered with NSW Police – Macarthur Highway Patrol to develop an educational flyer which will be distributed to all local schools throughout the three LGAs

The flyer aims to:

• Improve school road safety;
• Inform road users on how to best use the traffic facilities around local schools; and
• Minimise traffic impacts around schools to our local communities.

In addition to this, Council is promoting National Walk Safely to School Day on Friday, 19 May 2023. The day is aimed at encouraging primary school students to walk and commute to school safely and to encourage parents and carers to teach their children about road safety.

For 24 years, National Walk Safely to School Day has been encouraging primary school students to walk and commute to school safely.

Not only does the day promote healthy habits, it also encourages parents and carers to reinforce safe pedestrian behaviour, helps reduce car dependency habits and helps children develop vital road-crossing skills.

For more information on road safety around schools visit www.walk.com.au

All child restraints must be installed as per manufacturers guidelines. Don’t risk your child’s safety! If you are unsure how to fit your seat, you should have it installed by an authorised professional fitter.

Which car seat do I use for my child?

0 - 6 months of age, your child must:

• Use a rearward facing child restraint that is properly fitted to the vehicle and adjusted to fit their body correctly.
• Not travel in the front seat of a vehicle that has a back row or rows of seats.

Best practice recommendations

• Keep your baby in a rearward facing child restraint until they have reached the maximum size limits.
  
  Infants have relatively large heads and weak necks which puts them at particularly high risk of serious injuries. Rearward facing child restraints provide the required head and neck support that a child needs if involved in a car accident.

6 months to 4 years of age, your child must:

• Use either a rearward facing OR forward-facing child restraint with an inbuilt harness, that is properly fitted to the vehicle and adjusted to fit the child’s body correctly.
• Not travel in the front seat of a vehicle that has a back row or rows of seats.

Best practice recommendations

• Infants are safest if they stay in their rearward facing child restraint. Use the markers on the restraint to see if they still fit.

• Once your child meets the child restraint markers and is too tall to be rearward facing, they should use a forward-facing child restraint with an inbuilt harness for as long as they fit.

4 to 7 years of age, your child must:

• Use either a forward-facing child restraint with inbuilt harness OR a booster seat with a properly fastened and adjusted seatbelt.
• Not travel in the front seat of a vehicle that has a back row or rows of seats unless all the other back seats are occupied by children who are also under 7 years of age.

Best practice recommendations

• Keep your child in a child restraint until they reach the maximum size limit.

Is my child ready for an adult seatbelt?

Use the five-step test to see if your child is ready to move into an adult seatbelt:

1. Can the child sit with their back against the vehicle seat back?
2. Do the child’s knees bend in front of the edge of the seat?
3. Does the sash belt sit low across the middle of the shoulders?
4. Is the lap belt sitting low across the hips touching the thighs?
5. Can the child stay seated like this for the whole trip?

Yes to all? Then your child is seatbelt ready.

For more information about child restraint safety, visit www.childcarseats.com.au

Camden and Campbelltown Council’s hold child restraint fitting days throughout the year. For more information, contact your local council.

FACT! 53% of children who’ve died in crashes since 2009 were not properly restrained. In other words, many of the deaths could likely have been prevented if the children had been properly buckled up*

*Source: Child Death Review Ream report prepared by the NSW Ombudsman (5 June 2019).

Heading to the slopes this winter?

Driving on icy and snow-covered roads requires good vehicle preparation and planning ahead.

We’ve put together some safety information to help you have a safe and enjoyable holiday.

Snow chains are a must and are required by law in some parts of the Snowy region. Fines apply to those who don’t comply.

All two-wheel drive vehicles entering Kosciuszko National Park between the June and October long weekends must carry snow chains. The law requires you to carry them on the following roads:

• Kosciuszko Road from the Kosciuszko National Park boundary at Thredbo River to Perisher Valley
• Alpine Way between Thredbo and Tom Groggin
• Island Bend/Guthega Road for its full length.

Snow chains can be hired from various locations along the journey to the snow fields and must be the correct size for the vehicle they are to be fitted on. Not all snow chains fit all vehicles. The hirer or supplier should show you how to fit them properly.

When driving with snow chains fitted, it is recommended to stay below 40kph. Once fitted, you should drive about 200m before stopping and checking they are tensioned correctly.

It is also highly recommended to:

• Call your mechanic to ask whether your vehicle requires anti-freeze to be added to the radiator;
• Drive on alpine roads with your headlights on. Use your fog lights when visibility is poor due to fog or mist;
• Don’t forget to take regular breaks and make good use of the driver reviver sites along the way; and
• Have an emergency kit that includes items such as a torch, blanket, tow rope, spade, plastic scraper (for getting ice off the windscreen) and a first aid kit.

Driving safely in cold climate areas requires drivers to be alert and always on the lookout for black ice, snow and slippery road surfaces as well as wildlife such as wombats and kangaroos that are in the alpine regions in large numbers.

Good vehicle preparation is paramount to ensuring the safety of you and other road users.

Not all E-bikes and E-scooters are created equally.

E-bikes and E-scooters are all the rage right now but are you aware of the legal ramifications around using them?

E-bikes (electric or power assisted pedal cycles) are ordinary bicycles fitted with some sort of battery powered motor designed to assist the rider.

For an E-bike to be ridden legally on a road or footpath, it must have a power output of less than 200-watts. If you’re able to ride your E-bike without pedalling it, it is highly likely that your bike is over the 200-watt limit which means it is illegal to use on a road or footpath.

A power assisted E-bike can be used on a road or footpath if it assists the rider when pedalling. It should not be able to move from a standing start without the rider pedalling the bike.

There are hefty fines for riding a power assisted E-bike that exceed the 200-watt limit on a road or footpath as these bikes are considered motor vehicles under NSW Road Rules and are required to be registered. As they do not comply with registration requirements and cannot be registered and therefore cannot be used on roads and footpaths.

The use of an unregistered vehicle (including E-bikes) on a road or footpath currently carries a penalty of $723.

An E-scooter (electric scooter) falls under the same definition as a bicycle under NSW Road Rules. Therefore, a significant number of rules that apply to bicycle riders also apply to E-scooter riders.

There are also some notable differences. For example:

• It is an offence for a child under the age of 16 years to ride an E-scooter on a footpath or a road; and
• If a person over the age of 16 years rides an E-scooter on a road or road related area (footpath), they are subject to same rules as bicycle riders such as the wearing of helmets, vehicle registration (if over 200-watts) as well as obeying all road rules.

Enjoy your E-bikes and E-scooters safely on private property.

Did you know a crash as a motorcyclist is almost 30 times more likely to be fatal than as a motorist!

As road users, motorcycle riders and motorists have an important part to play in keeping motorcyclists safe. Motorcycles are physically smaller than other vehicles and only have a single headlight, theoretically making them harder to see. As a driver it is important to ‘look twice for bikes’ and be aware of your blind spots.

In recognition of Motorcycle Awareness Month, we’re providing tips to motorcycle riders to help keep themselves safe on the road:

• ‘Ride to Live’ - riding with the right attitude, and the right gear is a great start. Check how your riding gear rates for safety at www.motocap.com.au;

• Ride defensively, not aggressively and plan for the unexpected;
• Maintain a safe distance (including reaction time) between you and any vehicle in front of you, including your riding buddies;
• Constantly scan and monitor your surroundings and look out for hazards such as potholes;
• Be prepared as you approach potential hazards (set up, and reduce the brake freeplay, which in turn activates the brake light and starts compressing the suspension travel);
• Ensure your motorcycle is in a safe and roadworthy condition before going for a ride. If you are unsure how to maintain your motorcycle, many local motorcycle shops run free basic maintenance courses, or you could seek assistance from a suitably skilled rider;
• Control your space, keep your bike within your lane, position your bike away from oncoming traffic (also when exiting a corner) and ensure you have a buffer zone; and
• Ride within YOUR comfort zone.

Inexperienced riders have additional rules to help keep them, and other road users, safe. These include:

• Restrictions on bikes they can ride (LAMS scheme);
• They may not use any function, of any phone, at any time. This means no ear pods or helmet audio systems (including listening to music or audiobooks) or even navigation if they are being sourced from a mobile phone; and
• Learner and Provisional 1 riders are prohibited from carrying a pillion passenger.

For more information including tips to help keep everyone safe on the road, visit Ridetolive.

Let all try and make Motorcycle Awareness Month, motorcyclist fatality free.