More than six leadfoot drivers a day were caught speeding in Canberra school zones last year, leading police to warn they put the lives of children at risk.
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Children attending schools in Bruce, Franklin, Narrabundah, Kambah and Deakin are being put in the most danger from speeding drivers, with a Canberra Times investigation revealing these are the ACT's top hotspots for school-zone speeders.
With the school term now in full swing, police have branded drivers who break the law in school zones as "irresponsible".
In the last year, five motorists were caught speeding more than double the 40km/h limit, which saw each driver slapped with a $1811 fine and six demerit points.
Ten were caught hurtling through Bruce school zones at speeds of more than 30km/h and up to 45km/h above the limit.
A motorist driving at 40km/h who takes their eyes off the road for just three seconds will travel 33 metres effectively blindfolded.
"Three seconds – checking a mobile text message or texting a message – whereby a driver's attention is taken away from the road could lead to a collision and possible loss of life," officer in charge of traffic operations Station Sergeant Susie Ball said.
ACT Policing caught 1355 drivers speeding in school zones last year, issuing 758 traffic infringement notices and 597 cautions, which was down on the previous year's figures.
"Police hear plenty of excuses from drivers – they didn't see the sign or they didn't realise the time. But it's up to each driver to take responsibility for their actions and make a commitment not to speed in school zones," she said.
"We'll do our part by targeting every school zone and we will issue fines to any driver breaking the road rules."
Bruce has emerged as Canberra's worst suburb for drivers speeding in school zones with 229 drivers caught last year, including 151 – or more than a third – nabbed doing between 15km/h and 30 km/h over the limit, ACT Policing figures reveal.
Twenty-eight drivers were caught speeding in school zones in Kambah last year while Deakin emerged as the fifth-worst area for people breaking the 40km/h limit in school zones with 27 motorists pinged for speeding last year.
Station Sergeant Ball said it was important a 40km/h limit was imposed in school zones as it gave motorists extra time to stop in an unexpected situation.
"It's important to remember children, especially young primary school children, are not as aware as adults of the dangers associated with crossing the road."
Police also cracked down on distracted drivers last year with ACT Policing issuing 48 cautions and 88 traffic infringement notices to motorists caught using their mobile phones in Bruce, Deakin, Franklin, Kambah and Narrabundah in 2014.
