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With this in mind, Leeton shire drivers are being urged to pay special attention when travelling on roads used as school bus routes.
“Our school bus drivers have incidences every day when vehicles pass them at excessive speed,” said Leeton Shire Council road safety officer Stephanie Puntoriero.
“This endangers children getting on or getting off their school bus.
“There is a 40km/h speed limit for traffic passing a school bus that is picking up or setting down children. The speed limit is for all traffic travelling in the same direction as the bus, whether the bus is stationery or moving.”
The 40km/h speed limit must be observed when the rear “wig-wag” lights on the bus are flashing.
This means not just around schools, it could be where the bus stops anywhere along the bus route.
Flashing headlights on school buses also alert oncoming motorists that children are close.
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Drivers face a fine of $116 and one demerit point if they are caught driving less than 10km/h over the 40km/h speed limit.
If they are caught speeding more than 10km/h over the limit the fine jumps to $269 and three demerit points.
Those numbers continue to rise as the speeding offence goes into the higher brackets.
