“Children are vulnerable road users and that’s why everyone needs to slow down and pay attention when school goes back.”

That message from Road Safety and Injury Prevention Officer Melanie Suitor is being reinforced across the Western Plains as thousands of students prepare to return to classrooms in the coming weeks.

While eastern division schools may have already started, it will be a staggered start for public, Catholic and independent schools in the education department's western division with some returning on Monday 2 February and others not until 9 February.

Ms Suitor, who works across Lachlan and Parkes Shire Councils, said the start of the school year was a critical time for drivers, parents and carers to refocus on road safety, particularly around schools.

“Road crashes account for more than half of all accidental deaths among children aged five to 14,” Ms Suitor said.

“Children are at risk in the traffic environment because of their size, their inability to judge speed and distance, and the fact that they may behave unpredictably.”

Councils are reminding motorists that school drop-off and pick-up times significantly increase congestion, with more cars, buses, cyclists and young pedestrians on local roads.

“Over the long summer break, it’s easy to forget just how busy and congested streets around schools can get,” Ms Suitor said.

“Drivers are reminded to slow down, pay extra attention and be patient when school resumes.”

Ms Suitor also urged drivers to obey parking restrictions around schools, noting that these rules are designed to protect children.

“The most common signs around schools are ‘No Stopping’ and ‘No Parking’,” she said.

It's important to be aware of school times and the road rules - 40km/h in NSW school zones - so our kids can get to and from school safely.

“You cannot stop at all in a ‘No Stopping’ zone, but you can drop off or pick up passengers in a ‘No Parking’ zone for up to two minutes, as long as you stay within three metres of your vehicle.”

Across New South Wales, 40km/h school speed zones operate around all schools.

Most are active between 8am and 9.30am, and again from 2.30pm to 4pm on school days when lights are flashing.

Police will also be targeting school zones when students return, enforcing speed limits and road rules.

Parents and carers were encouraged to play their part by regularly reinforcing safe road behaviours with children.

Ms Suitor said children should always wear seatbelts or approved child restraints when travelling in cars, noting that laws require children up to seven years of age to be restrained correctly.

Where possible, families are encouraged to drop children off and pick them up on the school side of the road and to use the footpath-side ‘safety door’ when entering or exiting vehicles.

Children should use pedestrian crossings where available, avoid distractions such as mobile phones or headphones, and always wear helmets when riding bikes, scooters or skateboards.

Younger children should be supervised near traffic, with those up to eight years old holding an adult’s hand when crossing roads.

For families who use school buses, Ms Suitor recommended walking children to the bus stop whenever possible.

“Road safety around schools is everybody’s responsibility - students, teachers, parents, carers and drivers,” she said.

“We all have a part to play.”