Albany drivers fail school-zone test

Albany drivers are among the worst in WA for speeding in school zones.

With children back at school this week and authorities revealing the 10 worst suburbs for school-zone speeding in 2018, motorists are being reminded to slow down.

Mira Mar in Albany was the only regional site on the list, with police issuing 492 infringements to motorists caught flouting the 40km/h limit in 2018.

Albany also ranked in the State’s worst for 2017, with 680 infringements handed out to motorists for speeding.

Albany police officer-in- charge Senior Sergeant Grant Pollard said it was disappointing to see Albany on the list again.

“We are extremely disappointed,” he said. “Children of any community deserve to be able to get to school and come home safely and it’s the irresponsible careless driving of motorists putting those children at risk.

“We will be paying attention to this location and other school locations around Albany and we don’t make any apology for enforcing these speed restrictions to their fullest.”

Sen. Sgt Pollard said motorists pulled over for disregarding school zones laws would receive no sympathy from him or his officers.

“I think it’s a very poor attitude for drivers to have,” he said.

“That many infringements handed out is disappointing to see.

“Motorists have been warned, there are signs and they are still blatantly continuing to commit offences of speeding in school zones. “It’s just a very poor attitude that will put the children at risk — there is no excuse.”

“When a child does get struck by a vehicle, it’s just not a traffic crash, it’s the trauma that is caused to the child, to the family and to the child’s friends and school — it’s a ripple effect.”

Albany Primary School principal Jayde Hewson said it was frustrating and disappointing to see drivers still speeding through the 40km/h zone.

“It’s disappointing that drivers aren’t getting the message, we’ve been here a long time — and it’s not just us here, we have Albany Senior High School, so between us the school precinct is quite large,” she said.

“We work hard with the City of Albany to promote active transport so we need our motorists to slow down so we can keep encouraging kids to be safe on our roads.”