Brisbane’s speed awareness monitors (SAMs) are back on duty as students return to classrooms, helping to make streets around schools safer while keeping Brisbane moving.
Dedicated school zone SAMs were first introduced in 2021, with 100 now in operation as part of a citywide network of 287 monitors.
More than 1.4 billion vehicles have passed Brisbane’s ‘Slow for SAM’ signs since 2013, encouraging safer driving with an average speed reduction of 6.3km/h.
Between April and September last year, more than 82 million vehicles were recorded across the city, with around half of speeding drivers adjusting their behaviour to travel under the speed limit.
Over the same time period:
• Drivers using Frasers Road, Ashgrove improved the most, with average speeds dropping by 9km/h in a 50km/h zone.
• Drivers travelling along Leopard Street, Kangaroo Point were the best at sticking to the speed limit with 1.66 million vehicles driving at or below the school zone speed limit.
• The worst offender was captured on Nudgee Road, Nundah recording a top speed of 187km/h in a 60km/h zone.
Data captured through the ’Slow for SAM’ program cannot be used for enforcement, however, it can inform police driver safety campaigns.
‘Slow for SAM’ is part of a wider school safety program, including flashing signs, high-visibility road markings and infrastructure upgrades.
The Schrinner Council has installed 140 school zone signs at 70 schools since 2015 with the support of the State Government.
Almost 17,000 students from 30 schools are also set to take part in the Schrinner Council’s Active School Travel program in 2026, encouraging safe walking and riding to school.
Safer School Precinct upgrades are also rolling out across the suburbs, with consultation recently completed in Kedron, Mansfield and Wynnum Manly.
Work on the first Safer School Precinct in Kedron is expected to begin mid-2026.
Consultation will begin on a new Indooroopilly Safer School Precinct in early 2026.
Quotes attributable to Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner:
“Our ’Slow for SAM’ program demonstrates the strength of pester power coming from the booster in the backseat.
“It’s a simple, proven way of encouraging people to drive more safely, particularly around schools to help our kids get to and from school sooner and safer.
“We’re backing this up even further with better signage, safer streets and programs that encourage walking and riding, all focused on keeping our youngest residents safe.
“Dropping the kids off at school can be stressful but SAMs are a good reminder to do the right thing and help make sure every child gets home safely.”
