A warning to parents around school drop off/pick up zones

It came after Queensland Times reported an Ipswich grandmother had received a $94 infringement notice from Ipswich City Council for stopping too long while waiting to collect her granddaughter from Augusta State School.

RACQ spokesperson Lucinda Ross said school zones were designed to keep our most vulnerable road users safe.

“While no one likes to be hit with a fine, we’re all responsible for helping students get to and from school safely without impacting the rest of the surrounding community,” Ms Ross said.

“That’s why we’re urging parents and carers to be mindful of parking signs and limits as you could find yourself paying a fine for overstaying the limit.

“Parking nearby in an area with higher time allowances and walking with the children to and from school is a great way parents and guardians can teach children how to cross roads safely as well as healthy habits.”

An Ipswich City Council spokesperson told the Queensland Times about 100 parking offences had been issued for Augusta and Springfield Central State Schools since the beginning of the year.

“Due to a high number of complaints from the public, the council has been doing regular patrols around Augusta State School since the start of the school year and a number of infringements have been issued for illegal parking,” the spokesperson said.

“As the problem is ongoing, the council will continue to undertake patrols around this school and other schools in the area. The council encourages parents and guardians who are able to, to park a short distance away from the school and walk to collect children, especially of an afternoon to avoid traffic congestion.

“The council and the Department of Transport have been working with the Augusta State School for some time and improvements, such as a supervised crossing and pedestrian footpaths, are examples of how the community can benefit from a collaborative approach to a problem.”