School pick up and drop off
It's easy to become complacent about the regular routine of dropping off and picking up students from school.
Because students will always be unpredictable, being constantly alert in school zones and obeying road and parking rules can easily prevent tragedy outside our schools. Schools are busy areas, where there are often lots of children—who do not always understand the danger of roads and vehicles. Make sure to take extra care when parking on school grounds and on the roads and streets around the school and follow the signed parking rules at all times.
- Watch for students riding, walking or getting out of vehicles.
- Observe school zone signs. These require you to travel at lower speeds at certain hours. Keep an eye out for students at pedestrian crossings and always stop for them.
- Be alert when driving past a stationary bus as students often step out in front of and from behind buses to cross the road.
- Never double park.
School zones are areas around schools where, during certain times, reduced speed limits apply. Speed limits and drop-off, pick-up and parking rules exist to keep children, parents and carers safe and to minimise speed and traffic jams around schools.
Walking safely to school
In order to reduce traffic around our campuses, we encourage our children to walk and commute safely to school. In doing so it is important to highlight the importance of being a safe road user and to encourage, our parents, carers, community and students to work together for a safer future.
Our top tips for walking safely to school are:
- Be alert and aware - Take note of the dangers you come across on your walk and bring them to your child's attention. Point out dangers, such as vehicles coming out of driveways. Talk to your child about being alert in a road environment.
- With our younger students hold hands - When on the footpath, at a crossing or in a car park always hold your child's hand. It is advised to do this up to the age of at least 8 years old and closely supervise until at least the age of 10.
- Choose a safe crossing - Lead by example and choose a safe place to cross the road. Explain why it is the safest place to cross.
- Set a good example - Your child watches everything you do, so if you cross at the crossing they will too. It is also important to share these messages with other carers who may walk with your child to school.
- Stop, Look, Listen, Think every time you cross the road - Discuss this important road safety message STOP! one step back from the kerb. LOOK! continuously look both ways. LISTEN! for the sounds of approaching traffic. THINK! whether it is safe to cross.
- Practise makes perfect - The more supervised practice your child can get the better, so why not make walking safely to school a new routine to walk to school more often. Older children may be ready to make the journey to school independently. Before they take this step, observe if they are road safe and reinforce the road safety messages.
Bike Racks
For students who ride to school, bike racks are located on our campuses. Students are responsible for locking bikes securely to avoid theft. Bikes are to be walked through the grounds and through pedestrian crossings.
Bus Travel
Roma State College students may be eligible for private transport assistance under the School Transport Assistance Scheme. As a guide, in order to be eligible for this allowance, primary school students must live more than 3.2km from the nearest state primary school and secondary students must live more than 4.8km from the nearest state secondary school.
For more information on the availability of school bus transport for your student and how to apply, please contact the local Translink Office.