School Zones, Children's Crossings and Shared Zones in Victoria

School speed limits

Children get distracted easily, can forget to check for danger and find it hard to judge how fast a vehicle is coming. That is why lower limits apply outside all Victorian schools. Static or electronic variable signs warn you about them.

Time-based limits only apply at the times shown on the sign, so read it. Take extra care at arrival and departure times, and watch for children darting out from between parked cars or near bus stops and playgrounds.

Children's crossings

• Approach at a speed that lets you stop safely.
• You must stop at a flagged children's crossing if a pedestrian is on it or stepping onto it, even when no crossing supervisor is present. Stay stopped until the pedestrian has left the crossing.
• You must also stop if a hand-held Stop sign is shown at the crossing.
• You must not overtake another vehicle that has stopped at a pedestrian crossing or children's crossing.

Shared zones

Shared zones are places where vehicles and pedestrians mix. The limit is 10 km/h unless the Shared Zone sign shows another figure, and drivers must give way to pedestrians. They exist because a pedestrian struck at 40 km/h or more is unlikely to survive.

More on speed in general: speed limits in Victoria. More on walkers: sharing the road with pedestrians.

Based on the Victorian Road to Solo Driving handbook and the VicRoads learner and probationary pages. Rules change from time to time, so check vicroads.vic.gov.au for the latest.