Team leader from the Cootamundra Local Area Command (LAC) HWP unit, Sergeant Daniel Moylan said with the students returning to school it is important to slow down for their safety.

“We will have a strong presence to firmly enforce school zones and we make no apology for our enthusiasm towards drivers ignoring our message,” Sgt Moylan said.

“For the period July 2009 to December 2009 (two weeks of which were holidays) within the Cootamundra LAC, a total of 64 penalty notices were issued for traffic offences, which occurred in school zones.

“From the 64 issued, 81 per cent were detected in the Young and Cootamundra sectors.

“The more significant of these offences being exceeding the 40 kilometres per hour speed limit and disobeying ‘no stopping signs’.

“A surprising six motorists were detected travelling between 60-70 kilometres per hour while 21 motorist were detected travelling 50-60 kilometres per hour.

“At 70 kilometres per hour, an alert driver would travel around 20 metres before reacting let alone stopping, which would take a further 28 metres, compared to a motorist travelling at 40 kilometres per hour who would stop within the 20 metres,” Sgt Moylan said.

Sgt Moylan said the fines for motorists are quite high and they will enforce them.

“Parking or stopping on or near a pedestrian crossing is $338, $253 for motorists who double park and $253 for stopping in a bus zone.

“All these offences also carry a loss of two demerit points,” he said.

Speed penalties range from $141 and two points right up to $1859 and seven demerit points.

“Double parking is dangerous because it obstructs the view and kids don’t have any depth perception and just pop out.

“We encourage parents to walk their child to the gate for added safety.

“I think it is also important to remind drivers that when passing a bus it is also 40 kilometres per hour.

“People don’t realise that if they hit a child they have to live with it on their conscious – it is not something I could deal with.

“We need the message to be heard, the speed limit is 40 to create a safer environment for the kids,” Sgt Moylan said.