Police crackdown on drivers over 40km/h speed limit in Melbourne school zones
A drug driver and speeding motorists have been caught flouting the road rules during a police crackdown on high risk 40km/h zones around six schools in Melbourne’s inner north.
North West
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A drug driver and speeding motorists have been caught flouting the road rules during a police crackdown on high risk school zones in Melbourne’s inner north.
Fawkner Highway Patrol and proactive officers converged on roads around six primary schools in Moreland and Moonee Valley this week as part of a four-day operation targeting drivers breaching the 40km/h speed limit.
The six schools – Moreland, St Margaret Mary’s, Glenroy West, Brunswick South, Ascot Vale and Our Lady Help Of Christians School – had each been identified as high risk due to the number of previous accidents around the campuses.
Operation Apostle began on Tuesday when all year levels returned to normal classes following the pandemic shutdown and traffic significantly increased, particularly in school zones.
Red light offences, driver distraction including mobile phone use and school pedestrian crossing offences were also targeted by police around the schools.
Acting Sergeant Stephen Little told Leader “it felt like traffic was back to normal” on Tuesday.
“Around the schools and that period between 8am-9.30am and 2.30pm-4pm when our school zones run, the traffic was quite heavy,” he said.
“Safety is our utmost priority in those areas due to the high pedestrian traffic, particularly with school aged children.
“Our message is just to get people to slow down and be mindful and more aware around school zones.”
At Brunswick South Primary two speeding drivers were caught during the Tuesday afternoon pick up, including one travelling at more than 25km/h over the limit.
Outside Moreland Primary that morning a drug driver was busted as well as a motorist passing a stationary tram.
On Wednesday morning two unregistered vehicles, a speeding and licence offence were detected at Moreland Primary.
“The main mission of the operation is to provide a high visible police presence around these schools to minimise the incidents and severity of road trauma,” Sgt Little said.
“Over the week we will be looking at pedestrian and driver behaviour to ensure the safety of our vulnerable road users and to provide community safety reassurance to families and children returning to school.”
He said highway patrol units detected speeding offences daily across the more than 200 school zones in Moreland, Moonee Valley and Hume.
Brunswick South principal Trevor Strolla said the visible police presence helped remind people the zones were back in operation with all the kids back at school.
“School zones are areas where drivers need to be extra vigilant as children are less inclined to have that periphery vision,” he said.
Mr Strolla said the students were very inquisitive and asked police lots of questions about what they were doing at their school.
Operation Apostle will run until Friday afternoon.
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