More than 90 per cent of pedestrian casualties happened on urban roads with a speed limit of 70km/h or less, and children aged 5-9 were the most vulnerable.
"A large number of children will be going back to school still in holiday mode and excited about seeing old friends again in addition to new entrants unfamiliar with their surroundings. This makes them very vulnerable in the traffic environment," Mr Wylie said.
Dangerous driver behaviour and illegal parking near schools was also a concern for police, as it posed a "serious risk" to young people.
"Unless adults can set a good example for children, infringement notices may have to be issued."
Members of the public should contact police on 111, *555 (for incidents of bad driving) or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.