The dragon has joined the other Australian iconic natives’ animals such as the kangaroos, wombats and koalas as their latest road signage around the State of New South Wales. Unlike the other animals, whose signs beckon drivers to slow down to prevent these animals from becoming another roadkill, the dragon bears its teeth to warn motorists that they are entering and driving through a 40kmh school zone. The triangular dragon's teeth markings are painted on each side of the road for 35 metres at the start of each school zone.
It is meant to be combined with existing school zone signs and yellow ‘40’ road patches, will further alert motorists that they are in a school zone, that children may be around and to slow down to 40km/h around schools between 8am and 9.30am and from 2.30pm till 4pm.
The reason I am blogging this is because a newly arrived Singaporean friend was fined for inadvertently speeding in the school zones. Although the new line markings - known internationally as dragon's teeth - are fairly new even to many local motorists, I do not know whether they have been introduced in Singapore.
You may ask what if you are “sway” (unfortunate / unlucky) to be caught in the act. Well, I am going to copy and paste the RTA’s penalties here. So be warned, our island home is not the only fine country on earth.
Penalties for school zones
Fine and demerit point offences in school zones include:
Speeding – fine and demerit points.
Approach children’s crossing too quickly to stop safely – fine and demerit points.
Double parking – fine and demerit points.
Stopping on or near a children’s crossing – fine and demerit points.
Use a hand-held mobile phone while driving – fine and demerit points.
School zone penalties apply to offences committed in school zones during posted school hours.
phil, we also have these 'dragon teeth' on s'pore roads but they are not found within the school zones. they are meant to create the impression that the road is narrowing, so as to deter motorists from speeding. but, in s'pore, most motorists pay little heed to all these signs and warnings.
ReplyDeleteHi yg,
ReplyDeleteAre fines and demerit points no longer a deterrence back home? Or have we been immuned to fines. :)
phil, i think they are trying out the 'self-regulatory' and 'educate them' approach. so, you rarely see traffic policemen on the roads. like they say, the police cannot be everywhere. no police is akin to 'boh cheng hu', so many motorists are less fearful of being caught for traffic offences.
ReplyDelete