A third of Aussie drivers ignore school zones

With the national road toll hitting a devastating seven-year high in 2023, new research around the behaviour of Aussie drivers – particularly in school zones – is under heavy scrutiny.

According to a recent study commissioned by national insurer AAMI, a third of Australians have admitted to speeding through school zones, with the most common excuse being that they ‘didn’t notice the signs’.

What’s more, around 29 per cent of the 1000 Aussies surveyed said they’ve been left confused by school zone signage, speed limits, and operating times.

School zone speed limits of 40km/h or less apply across the country, enforced during set hours in the morning and afternoon, and only on school days, as determined by each state/territory.

Even still, the research has revealed some disturbing data, including one in ten Aussies admitting to speeding through school zones when there were no children in sight, while 13 per cent said they don’t know what time school zones apply.

Alarmingly, 72 per cent of Aussie drivers have also admitted to exceeding the speed limit in general (by less than 10km/h), with two-thirds using a similar excuse of that they didn’t notice the speed signs.

Being impatient was another excuse, while 59 per cent admitted to ‘driving on autopilot’ and not paying attention, and 40 per cent said they’ll speed if they’re running late.

And, while the majority claim they’ve exceeded the speed limit by no more than 10km/h, 22 per cent of those surveyed say they’ve gone between 10-20km/h over the posted limit, and 7 per cent have gone more than 20km/h over.

When asked why they would adhere to a speed limit, 48 per cent said they do the right thing because they’re worried about getting caught by the police and having to pay a fine or accrue demerit points, while just one in five said they wouldn’t speed out of fear of injuring others on the road.  

According to AAMI – and the 350,000-plus insurance claims it analysed from the last financial year – the most troublesome day of the week for crashes on Aussie roads is Friday, while afternoons between 1pm and 4:30pm during school pick-up have proven to be the most dangerous time.

AAMI Motor Claims Manager, Leah James says reduced speed limits in school zones have been around in different states for more than two decades, so there is absolutely no excuse to speed through school zones.

“A pedestrian crossing the road has an 87 per cent chance of survival when hit by a vehicle travelling at 40km/h or less. This drops dramatically when the speed is higher,” said James.

“School-aged children, particularly those starting prep or under 10 years of age, have limited road safety experience and can behave unpredictably. The onus is on us as adults to protect their lives and ensure they can get to and from school safely every day.”

AAMI is partnering with the Australian Road Safety Foundation to roll out Slow Down Songs across music-streaming service Spotify. An initiative launched in 2021 to geo-target drivers nearing school zones, songs are said to start playing normally, but dramatically slow down when drivers are within 5km of a school, to remind them they are entering an area with lowered speed limits.

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