SCHOOL crossings are danger zones for young people and supervisors, with motorists repeatedly ignoring road safety laws.
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Crossing supervisors report daily observations of speeding motorists, people on phones and many who fail to stop.
Harcourt crossing supervisor Michelle Holmes said she regularly saw drivers putting the lives of children at risk.
"Hundreds of kids use our crossings every day and it's scary to think what could happen in an instant if someone is looking at their phone instead of the road,'' she said.
Ms Holmes said this was a shared experience of all 14 crossing supervisors in Mount Alexander Shire.
"School zones are 40km/h but we often see vehicles speeding through crossings," Ms Holmes said.
"We're working with local police and reporting instances of unsafe driving to them."
The City of Greater Bendigo has 61 supervisors at 48 crossings throughout Greater Bendigo.
Council's manager of safe and healthy environments Caroline Grylls said many instances reported to council also happened when people were on the crossings.
"This includes situations where supervisors are on the crossing with the stop sign displayed and children still on the road, and people who stop and then drive through the crossing before being safe to do so,'' she said.
"We have no way of knowing why individuals do these things without having a conversation with the drivers."
Ms Grylls said Bendigo's school crossing supervisors reported incidents and near misses to council.
The reports don't include assumed information such as the level of concentration displayed by a driver.
"Where sufficient information has been gathered, these reports are passed on to the Victoria Police for investigation," Ms Grylls said.
"Any crossings that have regular incidents reported are assessed by the city to ensure that the best solution is being used.
"These assessments include reviewing the layout of the crossing, signage, position, visibility, parking restrictions and road markings as well as what may be added or changed to ensure that each crossing is as safe as possible."
Bendigo acting inspector Bruce Simpson said any reports that are sent through are followed up.
"Highway patrol is tasked to handle those reports as they come in," he said. "We treat them seriously. It's about looking after our kids at school crossings."
As well as speeding and using phones while driving, Harcourt crossing supervisor Ms Holmes said school crossing supervisors also encouraged all people to use the school crossings.
"There's a misconception that it's a children's crossing - but it's for everybody. They are here for everyone's safety," she said. "We encourage all adults to set the example and use the crossing."
Ms Grylls said more community education and awareness could help reduce incidents at school crossings.
"The majority of vehicle traffic around schools at pick up and drop off times consists of parents or carers transporting children," she said.
"The city regularly communicates with schools and provides information to be included in school newsletters regarding safe parking and use of roads around schools.
"The city promotes school crossing safety as a school community concern and encourage the school communities to provide leadership (by) providing safe school zones for their children."
Ms Holmes said drivers being overly cautious could also cause unnecessary dangers at crossings.
"Some drivers think they are doing the right thing by stopping at a crossing, but we urge drivers to only stop when the supervisor is holding out the stop sign," she said.
"One more tip is to avoid parking in no standing areas. It often limits our ability to see clearly and keep an eye on what's happening with the traffic."
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