Shock speeding at schools
HUNDREDS of drivers are tearing through Far Northern school zones, many at more than 20km/h above the speed limit.
More than 1000 drivers were fined in Cairns, Innisfail and Mareeba police districts between January last year and the end of March this year, Queensland Transport figures released to The Cairns Post reveal.
School principals pleaded with the Far Northern public yesterday to think before they endangered young lives.
And police said the problem was much bigger than the fines showed.
"That is only when we are out there patrolling those areas," a spokesman said of the figures.
Four children have been hospitalised with serious injuries after being hit by cars in 40km/h school zones since 1998, but police and principals fear that figure could easily rise after "idiotic" road
behaviour in recent weeks.
In Cardwell, a driver was booked for speeding through a crossing with children on it while also using a mobile telephone.
In Cardwell, a driver was booked for speeding through a crossing with children on it while also using a mobile telephone."Kids are actually walking on the crossing and people are driving through it up to 25km/h over the speed limit," frustrated Acting Sen-Constable Mike Roberts said.
More than 700 of the drivers caught
speeding outside schools were doing between 13 and 20km/h over the 40km/h speed limit, and more than 100 speedsters were tearing through at up to 70km/h.
Mareeba police booked one driver who was more than 40km/h over the school limit and 20km/h above the general speed limit.
"These are the worst of the worst when it comes to speeding motorists," Acting Far Northern Traffic Insp Preben Farbaek said of drivers flouting school speed limits.
"The zones are always well marked so there’s no excuse."
Police booked 99 drivers in 120 hours in February.
"The average distance it takes until the car stops is 20.5m at 40km/h but 38m at 60km/h,’’ Acting Insp Farbaek said.
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Slow down: Police and teachers are shocked at the number of speeding motorists in school zones.
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