School zone warning: ‘alarming’ increase in red light runners revealed by NRMA

Motorists are being warned about being caught out in school zones on Tuesday – despite it being a pupil free day – as the NRMA reveals how many drivers were nabbed last year. See the figures.

Motorists are being warned school zones return on Tuesday – despite it being a pupil free day – as the NRMA reveals new data showing an “alarming” increase in drivers running red lights in school zones last year.

The school zones are also in force the following day, Wednesday despite it also being another pupil free – with students set to return Thursday.

Last year 3200 speeding fines were issued in just three school days in school zones in January – including many unsuspecting drivers who were fined on the two pupil-free days.

And the NRMA has also revealed the worst locations for both speed camera breaches and red light runners in school zones – and is calling on the Minns Government to conduct an immediate safety audit of those locations.

NRMA spokesman Peter Khoury said that it was alarming that 773 red light fines were also issued across school zones in 2022/23 – representing a 16 per cent increase on the previous year for the dangerous behaviour.

Motorists slow as they approach the school zones at Narrabeen. NSW Picture: Jeremy Piper

He said the daily average number of fines across the three days in January last year, when the school zones applied – was 1073, which was 70 per cent higher than the February average of 625.

Some of the worst red light runners in school zones last year included Woodville Road southbound at Chester Hill during the January back to school period last year, which clocked up 229 offences, followed by the Princes Highway at Kogarah, which attracted 151 both north and south.

NRMA spokesman Peter Khoury says the organisation wants a safety audit of the worst spots for school zone breaches. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Christian Gilles

Mr Khoury pointed out that the focus on road safety around schools should apply to the whole journey to and from school – not just the actual official school zone.

“We need to ensure complacency does not set in after the long summer break and that motorists adjust their behaviour starting tomorrow, even though students do not return to the classrooms until Thursday,” he said.

“The number of drivers fined running red lights is also alarming, with a 16 per cent jump on the previous year.

“We know the worst locations across the state and are urging the NSW Government to conduct an immediate safety audit of these locations.

“Too many people are taking risks during school pick up and drop off times and this behaviour must stop as we know that it is during these periods when children are most vulnerable on our roads.”

More than 141,000 speeding fines were issued overall last year, raising almost $35 million in fine revenue for the Minns Government. That was a fall of more than 58,000 speeding fines on the previous year.

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