Goulburn police, council drive home school slow-down message

The warning comes as students return to school on Tuesday and police and council enforcement officers increase presence near the zones.

Goulburn officer in charge, Inspector Matt Hinton joined Goulburn Mulwaree Council's road safety and traffic officer, Tracey Norberg and Goulburn South Public School assistant principal, Lisa Harrison on Monday for the reminder.

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It coincided with completion of a new raised pedestrian crossing on Bourke Street, on the school's western aspect.

Inspector Hinton said the big message to motorists was to slow down to 40km/h in the school zones and to be prepared to stop if necessary.

"Don't rush to pick up and drop off students but leave five minutes early and hold children's hand around moving traffic," he said.

"They don't have the same peripheral vision or awareness of traffic as adults and can easily get distracted and run out in front of cars."

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He urged parents to also talk to their children about road safety.

The raised crossing is one of four funded under a $100,000 Safety Around Schools grant. Another has been constructed near Trinity Catholic College on Clinton Street. A crossing is also planned for Wollondilly Public School on Fitzroy Street.

Ms Harrison said the crossing was "wonderful."

"The children normally cross on Addison Street. This is great because it gives them a sense of independence and assures us that they will be crossing in a safe area."

Mrs Norberg urged parents to be mindful that they weren't the only ones dropping off their child. Her department has distributed flyers to all schools outlining parents' obligations around school zones.

Leading senior constable Doug Sonnex said people should be aware of associated penalties in the 40km/h areas.

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These depend on the size of the vehicle detected travelling greater than 40km/h. The maximum penalty for speeding through a school zone is $2676.

Others include:

The 'slow down' message and new crossing also came as contractors completed a roundabout at the nearby Addison and Bourke intersection.

The council secured $403,245 in blackspot funding two years ago for the work. The intersection was re-opened to traffic on Monday after an approximate six-week construction period.

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