Motorists are reminded to slow down and remain vigilant as school zones are back in force from Monday, July 22, coinciding with the start of Term 3 in NSW.

Sally Webb, Deputy Secretary of Safety, Environment and Regulation at Transport for NSW, noted that school zones are generally active from 8 to 9.30am and 2.30 to 4pm - with those time subject to variation for certain schools.

Although Monday is a teacher development day for some schools, many students will still return.

Last year, 23 children were involved in crashes in active school zones, with five seriously injured. Ms Webb emphasised the need for responsibility, noting higher penalties for those who disobey road rules.

“Children can be curious and unpredictable on the road, so please look out for them when they are crossing, waiting to cross, or as they get on or off buses,” Ms Webb urged.

Transport for NSW has over 1450 trained school crossing supervisors at more than 980 schools to ensure student safety.

Ms Webb encouraged parents to teach children road safety habits, reminding them to "Stop! Look! Listen! Think!" when crossing roads.