SAFETY AROUND SCHOOLS

Each day over one million children travel to and from school. This large number of students combined with increased traffic flow around schools during the morning and afternoon makes the school environment a potentially hazardous one. Whilst the Roads and Traffic Authority has always had a strong commitment to the road safety of children, the StaySafe Committee inquiry into road safety around schools conducted in 2000 resulted in an even greater focus on child road safety, particularly around schools. In response to the recommendations of the StaySafe Committee, the NSW Government announced the Safety Around Schools Program over three years, to follow on from the successful Safer Routes to School Program. The Program aims to improve the safety of school students through a program of engineering works of road safety facilities and other strategies around schools. (a) For the covering entry of this conference, please see ITRD abstract no. E208290.