New permanent Speed Awareness Monitors (SAM) will be rolled out in 14 Brisbane suburbs to keep children safe as schools return for the 2023 year.
Lord Mayor, Adrian Schrinner said 22 additional signs will be operational from tomorrow, as part of Brisbane City Council’s $4.1 million investment in school safety initiatives.
“Return to school is an exciting time for Brisbane families but all the extra activity on our roads can be distracting for drivers,” Lord Mayor Schrinner said.
“Our SAMs act as visual reminders to alert drivers to their speed and encourage them to slow down.”
He said the SAM program had proven to be incredibly effective since launching in 2013.
“Across all SAM locations, motorists exceeding the speed limit slowed by an average of eight kilometres per hour when alerted by one of our SAMs.”
“Nothing is more important than our kids’ safety and I want assure parents that we’re committed to investing in programs that keep children safe on the road.”
SAMs are just one of the many school safety improvements that residents will see in 2023. This year’s financial investment in school safety will deliver more signage, crossings and footpath links as part of Traffic Management Plan Improvements, Safer Paths to Schools and Active School Travel programs.
The new signs add to the existing 250 SAMs across Brisbane, with 83 permanently placed outside Brisbane schools and the rest rotated across more than 800 locations.
In 2022, Council issued 1,470 Parking Infringement and Warning Notices in school zones, with the most common offences including no stopping offences, parking longer than permitted and parking on a yellow line or stopping in a bus zone.
