Townsville police patrolling school zones as students return
As school bells ring at the start of 2025, Townsville’s Highway Patrol is urging motorists to sharpen their road safety habits or face heavy fines — and potential tragedy. Here’s what to look out for.
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As school bells ring at the start of 2025, Townsville’s Highway Patrol is urging motorists to sharpen their road safety habits or face heavy fines — and potential tragedy.
Senior Sergeant Robert Nalder, the Highway Patrol officer in charge, has issued a firm reminder to drivers to slow down and stay alert in school zones.
“We always have a big issue after the long Christmas break,” Senior Sergeant Nalder said. “People get back on the roads, and it’s like they’ve forgotten the rules.”
“We really need people to start paying attention to those large signs at the start and finish of the school zones.
“Most of them have flashing red lights to remind you, along with the speed limits and times. It’s not hard to follow.”
He stressed that ignoring these rules doesn’t just hit drivers in the wallet – it can have devastating consequences.
“The average fine for speeding in a school zone is around $483, so you’re not only going to save yourself a few dollars out of pocket, but you’re also possibly going to save a kid’s life.”
Wet weather is adding to the hazards this week, with slippery roads and poor visibility making safe driving even more critical.
“Roads get a little bit wet and slippery, so we need people to extend their following distances from two seconds to four seconds, just to allow them to be able to react better and bring the car to stop before colliding with the vehicle in front.”
Rain and kids darting across roads with umbrellas, sometimes between buses, pose dangers if drivers aren’t alert, as children often don’t look properly, warns Sgt Nalder.
To ensure the safety of schoolchildren, Townsville Police have launched a back-to-school operation targeting speeding and reckless driving near schools. Officers will be out in force across the district to catch rule-breakers.
While the region has avoided fatalities so far this year, Sgt Nalder reflected on the sobering road toll of 2024, when 15 lives were lost locally, compared to 14 in 2023.
“We are already two under last year’s numbers,” Sgt Nalder said, referencing a grim start to 2024 that saw a 29-year-old Victorian man die swerving to avoid a cow in Charters Towers on January 2, and 35-year-old Richard Cooper succumb to injuries after an e-scooter crash in Townsville on January 18.
With more rain expected in the coming days, police are urging drivers to adapt their habits to the conditions.
“If the road is wet, slow down. If it’s flooded, turn back. Don’t risk it,” Sgt Nalder said. “Also check your tyre tread to make sure you’re staying safe on slippery roads.”
Originally published as Townsville police patrolling school zones as students return
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