Ferntree Gully and Dandenong Ranges drivers are urged to take care as school zone speed limits are in place again next Monday 31 January with the return of students to school.
The Victorian Department of Transport issued an alert reminding drivers to be patient around school zones as speed limits return and there is an expected increase in road, pedestrian and bicycle traffic at drop-off and pick-up times.
Some school speed zones are permanent, while others operate from 8am to 9.30am, and from 2.30pm to 4pm on weekdays, with reduced speeds of 40km/h or 60km/h in school zones until the end of the school term.
Major roads enforcing school zone speed limits include Forest Rd, Brenock Park Drive and Wattleview Rd in Ferntree Gully, Talaskia Rd In Upper Ferntree Gully, Burwood Hwy in Tecoma, Reynolds Lane and Bayview Rd in Belgrave, School Rd In Menzies Creek, Belgrave-Gembrook Rd in Cockatoo, Main St in Gembrook, David Hill Rd and Main Rd in Monbulk and Mount Dandenong Tourist Rd in Sassafrass.
For students who rely on bus transport services to get to school, school bus services will return as normal, with a priority for ensuring drivers are provided for school buses. However, staff shortages area potential risk due to Covid-19 and schools will notify parents and students of changes or cancellations to services as soon as possible.
Parents are encouraged to stress the importance of children practicing practicing good hand hygiene, social distancing where they can, and respecting the clearance zone around bus drivers.
A number of measures have been implemented to help lower the risks of Covid-19 transmission on buses, with the myki bus network having permanently removed on-board top ups and myki sales as in the initial stages of the Covid-19 pandemic, as of 13 July 2020. A recent change is that cash payments will not be accepted on-board regional bus services including school buses until further notice.
Bus users are encouraged to utilise cashless ways of topping up their myki, such as on the PTV app or website or at a station. Cash payments will be accepted at station ticket offices and PTV hubs but cashless payment is preferred.
Up-to-date school bus cancellation information will be added to the Department of Education’s closure website: https://www.education.vic.gov.au/about/programs/health/Pages/closures.aspx.
Real-time traffic conditions are available at traffic.vicroads.vic.gov.au or via the VicTraffic mobile app.
The latest public transport information and network status is available at ptv.vic.gov.au or in the PTV mobile app.
