Family road trips don’t have to be stressful. Here are our expert tips on how to travel safely in the car with babies, toddlers and children.
Safety
Road safety around schools – what everyone needs to know
Driving safely around schools is everyone’s responsibility – these are the road rules to know when Victorian schools resume in 2025.
The Victorian school year resumes January 28 with more than a million students expected to walk through school gates in 2025.
The return to classrooms serves as an important reminder for all road users, not just parents and carers, to obey the laws around school zones and watch out for children when driving through areas they frequent.
According to the Transport Accident Commission (TAC), around seven children aged 0 to 15 die each year on Victorian roads. Children are at risk around roads because they are less visible, have a reduced ability to judge time, speed and distance, and often act without thinking.
“Motorists need to be careful when driving and parking around schools,” says RACV Head of Policy, James Williams.
“When we obey speed limits, are patient and exercise caution, we are role-modelling road safety behaviours.”
You must stop for any pedestrians at a Children's Crossing when the flags are up. Image: Getty
What are the road rules around schools?
School speed zones
There are school speed zones in place at most schools in Victoria. These zones exist to improve safety by reducing the chance and severity of potential collisions.
Some school speed zones are permanent and in effect 24/7, while other school speed zones are only operational during certain hours and days. These time-based school speed zones are usually in effect between 8am to 9.30am and 2.30pm to 4pm weekdays during Victorian school terms (excluding public holidays).
School speed zones reduce the posted speed limit to 40km on roads where the regular speed limit is less than 80km. Where the regular speed limit is 80km or more, the school speed zone usually reduces the limit to 60km.
Data published by the Victorian government states that a pedestrian hit by a vehicle travelling at 40km per hour has a much higher chance of survival than a pedestrian hit by a vehicle travelling at 60km.
Clear signage indicates when you are entering a school speed zone and when that speed zone applies. Be aware that students may be active near roads even outside of the school zone hours.
Failure to obey school speed limits can result in fines and demerit points.
Children’s Crossings
Children’s crossings can be recognised by bright orange ‘Children Crossing’ flags.
Whenever those flags are displayed, road users must stop for any pedestrians waiting to cross. This applies regardless of whether a crossing supervisor is present.
Remain stopped until the crossing is clear. Do not block crossings
Driving around preschools and childcare centres
While schools in Victoria have school speed zones, most standalone preschools and childcare centres (that is, those not connected to a school) do not.
Always obey the signposted speed limit when driving in Victoria. Where a speed limit is not posted, the default speed limit for built-up areas in Victoria (for example, suburban streets) is 50km.
In areas frequented by children, such as childcare centres, remain alert for children while driving.
Parking and drop off areas
The availability of parking varies from school to school in Victoria. Many schools provide parents and carers with a guide to safe parking, drop off and pick up options around the campus.
‘Kiss and Go’ zones are designated areas at some schools where drivers can drop off students safely without leaving their vehicle. You cannot park in these zones, which generally require motorists remain no longer than two minutes. Teach children to exit and enter the car from the kerbside door.
Obey local parking restrictions and signs around all schools. It is illegal to park within 20 metres before or 10 metres after a school crossing point.
If parking spaces are limited or unavailable close to a school, consider parking further away and walking with your child to the gate. Don't double park, park in a bus zone, or in a 'No Stopping' area.
Bike riding is an active way to get to school, but young children should be supervised. Image: Shannon Morris.
Pedestrian and bicycle road safety around schools
There has been a decline in the number of children walking to school over the past 50 years. According to VicHealth, 45 per cent of students walked to school in 1974, dropping to 20 per cent by 2003, with a similar percentage reflected in a recent poll that showed one in five Australian students walk or ride to school regularly.
The following tips can help students and their parents walk or cycle to school safely.
Supervise primary-aged children
Until around the age of 12, children have not developed the necessary skills and abilities to safely walk or bike ride independently.
Walk or ride with your children while demonstrating safe behaviours. This might include waiting for traffic to stop at a Children’s Crossing or ringing your bicycle bell to alert pedestrians when riding on the footpath.
Hold hands
Young children should never be left unsupervised around any road. Transport Victoria recommends children should always hold an adult’s hand when near any road until at least the age of five.
Be alert
Teach children to focus on their surroundings when walking or bike riding. Don’t use mobile phones, headphones or other handheld electronic devices when crossing the road.
Remind children to stay alert around driveways, and to be mindful of other pedestrians and bike riders.
Meet children on the same side of the road
When picking up children from school, meet them on the same side of the road as the school gates. This can help prevent them from dashing across the road to greet you.
Be bicycle safe
Kids aged 12 and under, as well as accompanying adults, are allowed to ride on the footpath in Victoria. All children and adults riding on the footpath must still wear a helmet.
Teach students how to safely use public transport before they travel unsupervised. Image: Matt Harvey
Catching public transport to school in Victoria
Many students, particularly older students, use public transport for all or part of their journey to school.
To help keep kids and teens safe on public transport, you can:
Teach safe behaviour
Ensure students know how to safely use public transport before letting them catch it unsupervised. This includes checking for traffic when boarding and alighting from trams, and obeying warnings at level crossings.
Plan your journey
RACV’s arevo Journey Planner app allows you to plan your journey, including bike routes, public transport, petrol prices, and live public transport updates.
Track their trip
Set your child’s phone to share its location. Try Family Location Sharing or Find My Friends app, which lets you know where your child is in real-time.
Don’t get caught out
Make sure your child is never stuck to get to or from school with automatic top ups on their public transport pass.
Make sure you know each other’s numbers
These days, everything is automated. Spend some time making sure you and your children have memorised each other’s phone numbers in case of an emergency and you need to get in contact.
Learn who to go to for assistance
Inform your child of who they can turn to for assistance on their journey, such as a PSO, police force member or public transport staff personnel.
The information provided is general advice only. Before making any decisions please consider your own circumstances and the Product Disclosure Statement and Target Market Determinations. For copies, visit racv.com.au. As distributor, RACV Insurance Services Pty Ltd AFS Licence No. 230039 receives commission for each policy sold or renewed. Product(s) issued by Insurance Manufacturers of Australia Pty Ltd ABN 93 004 208 084 AFS Licence No. 227678.
