School children - crossings

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Children under 10 years should always be supervised by an adult when on or near the road.

School Zones
School zones have been established near schools in South Australia to reduce the speed of vehicles when children are travelling to and from school. The speed limit of 25km/h is the maximum speed within the zone whenever children are present. Signs display the start and end of the zone.

School Zones – what drivers need to know
The start of a school zone is indicated by a sign showing:

• children
• the speed limit of ‘25’ km/h and ‘when children present’

and a white zigzag marking on the bitumen.

The speed limit of 25 km/h applies 24 hours a day, every day of the year when a child is present on the road, footpath, median strip or on a bike.

Most school zones include no formal school crossing, however some do include an Emu crossing.

You need to remember children can be present:

• before and after school care programs
• during school holidays
• to play sport after school or at weekends
• or just to play on the school oval or playground.

Emu Crossing
What is an Emu crossing?
An Emu (or ‘flag’) crossing is located within a School Zone where there is a need to assign priority to schoolchildren crossing a road. It usually has:

• fluorescent red ‘CHILDREN CROSSING’ flags displayed when most children are travelling to and from school in the morning and afternoon
• red and white posts on each side of the road
• lines painted on the road marking where the children will walk
• lines painted for drivers showing where they must stop.

The name ‘Emu’ comes from the Emu’s habit of looking around in an alert manner and moving with purpose from one place to another – the desired behavioural attributes sought in pedestrians when using the crossing.

What should you do at an Emu crossing?
Children must:

• make sure that drivers have seen them and are going to stop before they start crossing the road
• follow the instructions given by the child crossing monitors.

Drivers must:

• stop and give way to anyone crossing or about to cross the road when the flags are displayed.

Koala crossing What is a Koala crossing? A Koala (or flashing lights) crossing is a part-time pedestrian crossing where there is a need to assign priority to school children crossing a road. The operation of the flashing lights is automatic, timed to come on when most children are travelling to and from school, in the mornings and afternoons of school days only. It usually has: twin yellow flashing lights mounted on red and white poles on each side of the road lines painted on the road showing children where to cross stop lines painted across the road showing drivers where to stop ‘Children Crossing Ahead’ warning signs.

The name ‘Koala’ was based on the connection between the flashing, or ‘blinking’ of the lights and the well-known character in children’s literature ‘Blinky Bill’ the Koala.

What should you do at a Koala crossing?
Children must:

• make sure that drivers have seen them and are going to stop before they start crossing
• follow the instructions given by the child crossing monitors who usually supervise Koala crossings during busy times.

Drivers must:

• slow down to 25 km/h when the lights are flashing
• stop and give way to anyone crossing or about to cross.

Other Important Information
Safe Routes to School programs

Links
Brochure – Emu crossings (129 kb)
Brochure – Koala crossings (134 kb)
School Children - Crossings (12.9 kb)