​​Road Safety is an important community focused initiative that aims to reduce the number and severity of crashes on Canterbury-Bankstown roads, by providing targeted information to the whole community.

As part of our commitment to road safety, Council has two full-time Road Safety Officers, funded through the Local Government Road Safety Program.

Road safety is a priority! Education programs and strategies are developed to address several road safety issues, and are listed below​.

Drive safely in school zones - don’t lose your licence!

Protect our kids and your licence by driving safely around schools.
There are more than 120 schools in Canterbury-Bankstown. School zones operate at all schools between 8-9.30am and 2.30-4pm on school days, with a speed limit of 40km an hour.

School zones  - know the rules

The rules around driving and parking in school zones are designed to keep children safe. Breaking these rules is illegal and comes with heavy fines and demerit points.

Obstructing a driveway

Never block a driveway or footpath with your car. This can force children to walk on the road. It also blocks access for those using the driveway especially emergency vehicles – and is a frequent cause of frustration for school neighbours.

• Fine: $387+
• Demerit points: 2

Illegal u-turn

You must always be extremely careful when making a u-turn and in some places you are not allowed to make a u-turn at all, including at traffic lights or at/or near a crossing.

• Fine: $514+
• Demerit points: 4

No Stopping

You must not stop in a No Stopping area for any length of time, no matter how short, even just to drop off your child. This is to keep sight lines clear for children and drivers. These areas are shown by signs, or by a continuous yellow edge line.

• Fine: $387+
• Demerit points: 2  

No Parking

You may stop in a No Parking area for no longer than two minutes to pick up or drop off goods or passengers, and you must stay within three meters of your vehicle.

• Fine: $215+
• Demerit points: 2

Crossings

You must not stop on or close to a pedestrian crossing (leave an area of 20m before and 10m after a crossing clear). Crossings need to be kept clear so that children using the crossing are clearly visible. Never drop off or pick up a child in this area.

• Fine: $514+
• Demerit points: 2

Bus Zones

You must never stop in a bus zone. Buses need a safe place to drop off and pick up children and parking in bus zones can endanger those children. It’s also dangerous for a large vehicle like a bus to be forced to double park or make its way through small spaces.

• Fine: $387+
• Demerit points: 2

Double Parking

Never stop next to legally parked vehicles, even for a short time. Double parking reduces visibility for other drivers and pedestrians and it can also force other drivers to drive on the wrong side of the road. 

• Fine: $387+
• Demerit points: 2

Seatbelts save lives

Australian law requires children travelling in cars to be secured in approved restraints.

​Council conducts FREE child restraint checks to the community throughout the year.

For more information, call Council's Customer Service Centre​ on 9707 9000 and ask to speak to the Road Safety Officer.

Helping learner drivers

Council conducts two free workshops per year for supervisors of learner drivers. Learner drivers need to practice driving for 120 hours (including 20 hours at night) and they need to be supervised the whole time.

Our workshop offers practical advice including:

• Supervising learner drivers;
• Completing the learner driver log book;
• The benefits of driving practice; and 
• Planning on-road driving sessions.

For more information, or to reserve a place, call Council's Customer Service Centre on 9707 9000 and ask to speak to the Road Safety Officer.

​Bicycle safety

Under NSW Road Rules, bicycles are considered to be a vehicle and may be ridden on the road unless prohibited. To remain safe on your bicycle, especially when riding in traffic, follow the following rules:

• Always wear an approved bike helmet, properly fitted and fastened to your head;
• Always obey the road rules, including traffic lights, stop signs and give way signs;
• Ride in a predictable manner that does not require other road users to react suddenly to your movements;
• Give hand signals when changing lanes or turning left or right;
• Plan your route using quieter streets, bicycle paths or shared paths, wherever possible; and 
• Maintain control of your bike at all times. It's an offence to ride with both hands off the handlebars, feet off the pedals or to carry anything, which prevents you from having control.

Driver distraction

When you're driving, you can only use a mobile phone to make or receive a call if the phone is securely mounted to the vehicle (excluding P1 and P2 drivers), or you're using an automated audio device (excluding P1 and P2 drivers). It's against the law to touch the phone while driving.

Pedestrian safety

Before you cross the road:

• Always look - just because someone else decides to cross, doesn't mean it's safe;
• Unplug your earphones and put away your phone; 
• Never assume that an approaching vehicle can see you, or will stop for you – wait until all vehicles have stopped before you step off the kerb; 
• Avoid crossing between parked cars or at the front or back of buses and large vehicles; 
• At intersections, check for turning vehicles before you leave the kerb, and while you are crossing the road; 
• Wear bright, light coloured clothing at night or in reduced visibility conditions; and 
• Always use pedestrian crossings.

Speeding

Speeding remains the biggest killer on our roads, and in NSW, is a factor in about 40 per cent of road deaths. This means on average, around 177 people die each year in speed-related crashes in NSW.

Driving under the influence 

Safe driving requires precise skills, clear judgement, concentration, and being able to react to what happens on the road. Alcohol, drugs and medicines can affect all of these skills.

Driver fatigue

Fatigue is one of the three big  killers in NSW. Fatigue-related crashes can happen on any trip, no matter how long or short, or what time of day. Make sure you Stop, Revive, Survive.

Community road safety presentations

Our Road Safety Officers are available to present road safety information sessions to all community groups.​

For more information, or to organise a presentation, call Council's Customer Service Centre on 9707 9000 and ask to speak to the Road Safety Officer. 

Road Safety Strategic Plan

This provides us with the direction needed to address priority road safety issues over a FIVE​-year period, demonstrating how we can work together to create a safer place for all road users.

For more information, call Council's Customer Service Centre on 9707 9000 and ask to speak to the Road Safety Officer.