In New South Wales, more than one million school students travel to and from school each day. The vast majority of students do so safely.
At the time of this article, there are 127 fixed digital speed cameras installed in NSW, of which 57 are in school zones.
School zones were selected according to a number of criteria concerning the risks young pedestrians are exposed to, including a combination of high traffic volumes, the level of pedestrian use and crash history.
When do they operate?
All school zone speed cameras operate 24 hours per day, 7 days a week and detect vehicles exceeding the speed limit. They are also programmed to detect vehicles exceeding the 40km/h school zone speed limit during sign-posted school zone times.
For most locations these times are: 8:00 – 9:30am and 2.30pm – 4:00pm on days notified by the NSW Department of Education.
There are a small number of schools which have different school zone times. They are identified by red/orange school zone signs to show non-standard times.
In addition to the regulatory signs Roads and Maritime has also installed flashing lights (school zone alert systems) at a number of school zone sites, including all fixed speed camera sites that are located in a school zone.
What about pupil free days or private school holidays?
Both Catholic and private/independent schools have enforceable school zones in line with Department of Education school terms, irrespective of their term dates.
Pupil free days or staff development days are notified school days so the school zones continue to apply – there may still be students attending schools on these days.
Further information
For more information about fixed speed camers or school zones, visit the RMS Website
