One reason the RTA has for using the "preferred" expensive flashing lights is that they are equipped with a "back to base" fault reporting function.
A necessary feature they say, so that units that break down can for the children's safety be repaired promptly.

These lights are on Forest rd Hurstville and this photo was taken at 2.50pm today a gazetted school day.
This unit has not worked since last Friday.
Why does it take this long if it takes to fix this one, when there are (relatively speaking), only a few of NSW's school zones that have flashing lights.