The ACT Liberals have promised to install flashing lights in all school zones if elected in October.
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The lights would bring Canberra into line with NSW, including Queanbeyan, where flashing lights warn motorists to slow down during school drop-off and pick-up times.
In NSW, school zones operate only from 8am to 9.30am, and 2.30pm to 4pm. In Canberra, they operate throughout the day, from 8am to 4pm. This was the reason then education minister Joy Burch gave late last year for not introducing flashing lights outside Canberra schools – because school zones operate throughout the day.
Instead, she announced a trial of 30km/h speed zones and "dragon's teeth" road markings outside four Belconnen schools.
The Liberals' transport spokesman, Alistair Coe, said the rollout of flashing lights to all schools would cost $7.5 million – with three lights per school. The lights would operate from 8am till 4pm.
Flashing lights had been effective in NSW in reminding drivers to slow down and improving safety for children.
"Whilst some motorists consciously speed, many only do so because of a momentary lack of concentration and these signs will prompt motorists to slow down on the most critical stretches of our roads," Mr Coe said.
He said there was considerable research from the United States and other countries showing flashing lights worked to reduce speed. He pointed to a 1993 study for the US Institute of Transportation Engineers that found average speeds were reduced 9.3 per cent, and after a year by 7 per cent.
In 2010, an NRMA official told a NSW parliamentary committee that flashing lights had significantly improved motorists' awareness of school zones, enabling them to adjust their speed. Flashing lights also reduced ambiguity about school zones.
In 2014, six infringement notices or cautions were handed to Canberra drivers on each school day – more than 1372 in all. The year before, 1567 were handed out.
Last week, Education Minister Shane Rattenbury announced an extension of mobile speed camera vans to more school zones, with cameras now allowed at 43 schools.
