School Zone Safety

Jump to: School Kiss and Ride Zones - Safety Tips for Students - Parking and Traffic Rules - Resources 

We want to ensure that no child is hit by a car when going to or from schools in Ryde. You need to take extra care when driving and parking in school zones.

Make sure that you and your child understand with the road rules. If you break the traffic rules in a school zone you are putting children at risk.

School Kiss and Ride Zones

Drop Off and Pick Up Areas

A ‘Kiss and Ride Zone’ or ‘Drop-off and Pick-up’ area utilises existing 'No Parking' zones around schools. In these areas, drivers may stop to drop off or pick up children, however No Parking rules apply:

  • Maximum stop time is 2 minutes
  • Driver must remain in or within 3 metres of the vehicle
  • Vehicle must not be left unattended

Additional safety tips for school zones:

  • Always drop-off or pick-up your child from the designated area, following the school’s procedures
  • Make sure children use the footpath-side door when getting in and out of a car
  • Make sure the hand brake is applied when the vehicle is stationary
  • Never double park
  • Never park across a pedestrian crossing
  • Never undertake a U-turn in close proximity to the school.

Safety Tips for Students

  • Stay buckled up until the vehicle has stopped in the ‘Drop-off and Pick-up’ area
  • Make sure your school bag and other items are in a safe position, e.g. on the floor
  • Be ready to get out of the car with your belongings when the car has stopped and you have unbuckled your seatbelt
  • Always get in and out of the backseat of the vehicle through the safety door - the rear footpath-side door.

Parking and Traffic Rules

Choose Safety Over Convenience

The parking and traffic rules around our schools are there to protect your children. If you break the rules you may be fined. Below is a quick guide to some of the most commonly misunderstood traffic rules.

No Stopping

no stopping sign
What does it mean? You cannot stop in this area FOR ANY REASON (including queuing or waiting for space).

Why is it there? Keeps clear sight lines between drivers and children/pedestrians.
Penalty $349 + 2 Demerit Points (School Zone)


No Parking

no parking sign

What does it mean? You can stop in a NO PARKING zone for a maximum of two minutes to drop off and pick up passengers. If no spaces are available you cannot queue on the road way or in any other zones while waiting for a space. You will need to drive away and park elsewhere, only returning when there is space to pull up. You must stay within three metres of your vehicle at all times.
Why is it there? To provide a safe place for children/pedestrian set down and pick up.
Penalty $194 + 2 Demerit points (School Zone) 

Bus Zone

bus zone sign

What does it mean? You must not stop or park in a bus zone for any reason (including queuing or waiting for a space) unless you are driving a bus.
Why is it there? To provide a safe place for large buses to set down and pick up school children.
Penalty $349 + 2 Demerit Points (School Zone)

 

Pedestrian Crossings

pedestrian-crossing-diagram.jpg

You must not stop within 20 metres before a pedestrian crossing or 10 metres after a crossing unless there is a control sign permitting parking.
Why is it there? 
To ensure that children can be clearly seen by vehicles approaching the crossing.
Penalty $464 + 2 Demerit Points

Footpaths, Driveways, Passageways, Ramps and Nature Strips

driveways diagram

You must not stop on any footpath, driveway, passageway, ramp or nature strip, or even a driveway crossing a footpath or nature strip FOR ANY REASON. 
Why is it there? You could easily run over a child or force pedestrians onto the road to get around you.
Penalty $349 + 2 Demerit points

Double Parking

double parking diagram

You must not stop on the road adjacent to another vehicle at any time even to drop off or pick up passengers.
Why is it there? Double parking forces other cars to go around you causing traffic congestion and reduces the view of drivers and children crossing the road.
Penalty $349 + Demerit points 

 

Intersections

You must not stop in and around intersections with or without traffic lights at any time to drop off or pick up passengers.
Why is it there? Stopping in or around an intersection forces other cars to go around you causing traffic congestion and reduces the view of drivers and children crossing the road.
Penalty: $464 + 2 Demerit points 

The information on this page intended as a guide only, it is subject to change at any time without notice, current as of 1 January 2021.

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