MidCoast Council has introduced “kiss and ride” zones at three schools in the Great Lakes, designed to give parents a clear and safe place to drop children off each morning.
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The zones are marked with blue signage and have been installed at Forster Public School, Tuncurry Public School and Holy Name School in Forster on a trial basis.
If successful, they may be rolled out across the region over the next year.
MidCoast Council’s road safety officer Chris Dimarco said the focus of the zone is to give children and drivers a clear indication of where it is safe to pull up.
"Children look to us to keep them safe,” he said.
We're calling on school communities to get behind us and make sure every driver knows the signs around school and knows the rules that apply.”
Mr Dimarco and council rangers will visit Forster Public School on Tuesday, August 1 to temporarily chalk the kerb blue to match the signs.
The zone has exactly the same rules as a No Parking sign during the school zone times.
Drivers are allowed to pull up and assist children to exit via the pavement side door. They can also get out of the car to unload baggage, but must remain within three metres of the car and leave within two minutes.
Pulling up in designated bus zones or no stopping zones is illegal and unsafe for children alighting from vehicles.
To protect children, penalties and demerit points apply for anyone breaking the rules.