PARENTS at a Tamworth school have sparked the charge for safer school drop-off zones across the state.
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In a motion put to the NSW P&C Federation at an annual general meeting, Oxley Vale Public School asked for “kiss and drop zones” to be fitted to existing schools.
The move would ensure a safer place for parents and carers to drop off and pick up their children from school grounds rather than being exposed to busy roads.
New England P&C president Rachael Sowden was at the meeting and said the motion was passed, with representatives to now lobby the Department of Education, Roads and Maritime Services and other bodies on the issue.
“Lots of schools have traffic issues in the morning, particularly somewhere like Oxley Vale and how busy it is,” Dr Sowden said.
“They did expand the motion to all public schools to make sure there is safe parking – not to leave your car there all day but to help your child get out of the car and walk into school.
“It just means the people doing drop off and pick up have an easier time.
“It is fairly fast flowing and anyone at the school can have access to it and not have to park closer to your house than the school.”
A Department of Education spokesperson said ‘kiss and drop zones’ outside of school sites were the responsibility of the RMS or local councils to consider installing.
“If the department considers a road may need a ‘kiss and drop zone’ for better traffic management outside a school, it liaises with the authority responsible for the road in question to investigate the feasibility of providing one,” the spokesperson said.
Centre for Road Safety executive Director Bernard Carlon said the initiative was not compulsory.
“The drop off and pick up initiative is not compulsory and is designed for use on less busy local roads which are managed by local councils,” he said.
“To implement a new drop off and pick up zone the local school and council must work together to gain community agreement and ensure all necessary policies and procedures are developed and implemented.
“School crossing supervisors, road safety infrastructure (such as signs and road markings), increased penalties and education campaigns are in place to target school zone safety, protecting children on their journey to and from school.”
