By JESSE GRAHAM
HEALESVILLE police are set to crack down on illegal parking, bad behaviour and speeding in school zones in the coming weeks, with a “no apologies” stance to be taken.
Healesville police Sergeant Stewart Thomson said that police had received numerous complaints about people parking incorrectly in school zones, particularly on View Street, near Healesville Primary School.
He said that people would often park in ways that obscure intersections and stop school buses from getting through traffic.
Another issue Sgt Thomson raised was people driving the wrong way down View Street, which is a one-way road.
“We’re coming up with a solution, but in the meantime, we’ll be educating the parents,” Sgt Thomson said.
He said that police would be enforcing any breaches of bylaws and traffic laws, and running a campaign to enforce the 40 kilometre per hour speed limits around school zones.
Between 8am-9.30am and 2.30pm-4pm, drivers must slow to 40 kilometres per hour in marked school zones.
Healesville police will be patrolling schools on bicycles, in plain-clothes and in marked vehicles.
“The local operation is to be going via primary schools and high schools, such as Chum Creek, Badger Creek, Saint Brigid’s and Healesville Primary School, and Healesville High School,” Sgt Thomson said.
“We want people to get off to a safe start for the year and get people back into the system of the 40 kilometres per hour.”
Sgt Thomson said police will be doing all they can to educate parents on how to behave in school zones and that police would not be swayed by apologies from drivers they intend to charge.
For more information on school-zone speeds, visit www.vicroads.vic.gov.au.
