As 40km/h speed limits come into force around school zones this week, keen-eyed motorists may note the different styles employed by those wielding STOP signs at pedestrian crossings outside schools.
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Affectionately known as lollipop men and women, and mostly of a certain vintage, they are the people who shepherd the city's children across the zebra stripes in the morning and afternoon, ensuring they get to and from class safely.
Once the children have crossed, the lollipop person walks off the pedestrian crossing and onto the footpath to await the next group.
At this point some will give a wave to motorists to indicate it is now safe to move off; others will limit this signal to a nod; and others still make no gesture at all.
While some impatient motorists take off while the lollipop person is still exiting the crossing, the law states that they must wait until the person is on the footpath.
The fine for disobeying a hand-held stop sign at a children's crossing in a school zone is $581 and four demerit points.
"If you don't like having to slow down around schools or wait at crossings then find another route," said road safety officer for Orange and Cabonne councils Andrea Hamilton-Vaughan.
Mrs Hamilton-Vaughan said drivers need to remember that children's brains aren't fully developed, and that they can become easily distracted.
"Parents and teachers tell kids not to run across roads or behind cars, they tell them ad nauseam, however kids are impulsive," she said.
"They're not being naughty, they're just being children - they see a friend and they want to run and give them a hug and they forget what they've been told."
Fines for cars speeding in a school zone range from $203 and two demerit points (exceeding speed limit by 10km/h or under) to $2,676 and seven demerit points (exceeding speed limit by at least 45km/h).
Mrs Hamilton-Vaughan also warned drivers against undertaking illegal U-turns around schools.
"It is probably the most dangerous road manouevre when there are lots of children and other pedestrians about."
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