Changes to New South Wales traffic legislation are designed to protect children near school zones.
NSW Minister for Roads Melinda Pavey announced the changes to parking offences around schools.
The changes to some parking offence penalties under the Road Transport Legislation Amendment Regulation 2017, comes as the NSW Government hits a major milestone in its $10 million school infrastructure program.
Mrs Pavey said the changes included seven new school zone offences and the loss of extra demerit points.
“The safety of our children is paramount, which is why we worked with a number of organisations to review parking penalties,” she said.
The offences include obstructing access to a ramp, path or passageway; stopping on or near children’s or pedestrian crossings; and stopping within 10 metres of an intersection without traffic lights.
Mrs Pavey said the changes come into force as the NSW Government completes a third of its school infrastructure program.
“Over the past two years the NSW Government invested $10 million into school infrastructure, with $5 million invested into school flashing lights, the other $5 million into infrastructure,” Mrs Pavey said.
“This infrastructure work has included implementing raised crossings, line markings, fencing and kerb extensions as well as building pedestrian refuges.
“So far 54 schools around the state are now benefitting from the installation of these safety upgrades.”
Mrs Pavey said since 2013 there have been no pedestrian deaths in an operational NSW school zone, and we want to keep it that way.
“Every school in NSW already has at least one set of school zone flashing lights installed to warn motorists they are about to enter a 40km/h speed zone,” she said.
“Since coming to government in 2011 we have delivered 6000 flashing lights across the state.”
