Kim Laurie, of Chapel Hill, wrote to The Road Ahead in response to a letter in the summer edition from another member who was fined for speeding through a ‘split campus’ school zone on Water St, Spring Hill.
That member’s infringement was for travelling at 50km/h at 12.40pm in a 40km/h zone. She was unaware the ‘split campus’ zone meant the 40km/h speed limit applied from 7am–4pm.
“This particular school zone is an ‘enhanced school zone’ identified by the Queensland Government in 2015 as part of their Safer Schools initiative,” Mr Laurie said.
“These zones were to be provided with ‘enhanced school zone’ signs with flashing lights and speed limits, developed after extensive trial measures.
“The Government specifies that these signs are to be placed at the start of the school zone to give motorists better early warning.”
In this particular zone, Council extended the school zone in 2022, however the ‘enhanced sign’, which is provided by the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR), stayed in its original position, which was 160m into the 400m school zone.
Mr Laurie also raised concerns about several other Brisbane school zones, supplying photos and detailed explanations, which were passed on to RACQ’s Public Policy team.
After reviewing and investigating Mr Laurie’s suggestions, five of his proposed improvements to school zones were passed on to Council by the Public Policy team.
Council agreed to install new 60km/h speed sign and reinstate two missing 60km/h signs at the end of the 40km/h school zone speed limit at three school zones:
- Robinson Rd West, Aspley (approaching Murphy Road)
- Oxley Road, Chelmer/Graceville
- Leopard Street, Woolloongabba.
A fourth school zone, involving the wrongly positioned enhanced speed zone sign on Water St, is owned by TMR and the request for its repositioning was forwarded to the department.
A fifth request asked for the amendment of an incorrect school zone sign shown in a Council Standard Drawing, which Council also accommodated.
Council has a range of initiatives in place to improve safety for all road users around schools, including 100 strategically placed Speed Awareness Monitors (SAM) in school zones, reminding drivers to slow down and rewarding safe speeds with a smiling emoji.
Council is also rolling out a Safer Schools Precincts program across four Brisbane suburbs experiencing high volumes of school traffic, to reduce congestion and keep kids safe.
RACQ Traffic and Safety Engineering Manager Greg Miszkowycz thanked Mr Laurie for raising his concerns and Council for quickly recognising the need for the changes and acting on them.
“Mr Laurie put a lot of time and effort into presenting his suggestions to improve safety around these schools, and it’s great to get a positive outcome which will clarify driving conditions for motorists and improve safety,” Mr Miszkowycz said.
“This case highlights the impact that concerned members can have on improving road safety in their communities and continues RACQ’s 120-year history of advocating for its members and road safety for all Queenslanders.”
