Police will be keeping a close eye on motorists around schools in the Western Bay of Plenty as students head back to school next week.

Speeding drivers, and other traffic offences, near school grounds will be the target of the operation starting on October 14, says Western Bay of Plenty road policing manager Senior Sergeant Ian Campion.

Speed and other traffic offences are the focus of a back to school police campaign starting next Monday.

Drivers caught driving at 5km/h or more above the posted speed limit within 250 metres on either side of any school boundary can expect to receive a speeding infringement notice which will include demerit points.

'All drivers are reminded to keep a very good look out around schools for children but also for the school zone speed limits,” says Ian.

Ian says the challenge is for drivers passing school zones to slow down to the speed limit or below.

'Police will use static speed cameras and other speed detection equipment to target excessive speed to reduce the risk to children and ensure that they don't get injured or worse doing something as ordinary as going to school.

'Drivers not only need to take special care around school zones but on pedestrian crossings in the vicinity of schools and comply with school patrol crossing signs.” Ian says drivers also need to slow down to 20km/h when passing stationary school buses when students are getting on and off.

'The key risk times are between 7.30am -9am and 2.30pm -4pm on week days and the most vulnerable age group is between five and nine years, with more than 90 per cent of pedestrian casualties occurring on urban roads, with a speed limit of 70km/h or less.

'When driving at 50 km/h by the time you react to an unexpected event and apply the brakes you will have travelled a further 20 metres and it will take you a total of 41 metres to stop, that's nearly two cricket pitches or nearly half a football field.” A healthy adult struck at 50 km/h has about a 40 per cent chance of being killed - for a child, the odds are much worse, says Ian.

'In the urban environment, a child struck by a vehicle travelling at 60 km/hour has only a 15 per cent chance of survival.

'When the impact speed is reduced to 50 km/h the chance of survival increases to 55 per cent. It's a no brainer - just slow down.”

Ian says in addition to speed, inconsiderate driver behaviour and illegal parking near schools is also a major concern..

He says it poses a serious risk to children and unless adults can set a good example for children, infringement notices will be issued.

'Protect our kids and make school zones a safer place. '

Ian says some children will still be in holiday mode when they go back to school and are often distracted by the excitement of catching up with friends again.

'When distracted young students are very unpredictable which makes them vulnerable and puts them at risk in busy traffic environments requiring special care to be taken around schools.”

Ian says with the weather improving, parents should be taking advantage of the walking school buses in operation at numerous schools which in turn reduces congestion outside schools.