Speed limits near schools enforced

Drivers are being reminded to heed speed limits near schools and schoolbuses as pupils return to class next week.

Queenstown Lakes District Council transport manager Denis Mander said drivers need to watch their speed. The law says drivers must slow to 20kmh when passing a schoolbus picking up passengers or dropping pupils off.

"It's about keeping our children safe. Drivers need to remember the rule and slow down."

Queenstown Lakes bus drivers would be using hazard lights, a practice used in other districts to alert drivers that a bus was slowing or stopped, Mr Mander said.

Sergeant Aaron Nicholson, of Wanaka, said the approach was supported by police.

"We support any safety initiative that will assist our young people get to and from school safely."

Some motorists continued to ignore the 20kmh rule near buses and police would be enforcing the law as pupils started the new term, he said.

Strategic Traffic Unit head, Sergeant John Pine, of Invercargill, said Southland police would be part of a Southern region campaign targeting excessive speed around schools and on school bus routes.

The campaign would start when school returned next week and finish two weeks later on February 17.

Mr Pine said it would be a dual approach with frontline police staff and road police monitoring drivers around school zones.

"People's speeds do tend to creep up. We want the emphasis put back on the children," he said.

The campaign would cover urban and rural schools throughout Southland. During the campaign, police would be using speed cameras and lasers and would be enforcing speed limits within a school zone, which is within 250 metres of school boundaries.

Drivers travelling at 5kmh or more above the speed limit would be issued with an infringement notice.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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40km past schools   #2   05:33 pm Jan 29 2012

Unfortunately J... it's whatever the speed limit is in that area. Whether that is 50km/h, 80 or even 100 km/h!!! So the police will be sending out tickets for anything 5km over that. It's great the police will be keeping an eye out, but we are advocating 40 km/hr past ALL schools in the Invercargill area. We presented over 2700 signatures to the Council last month, and are hoping for some feedback from Council at Tuesdays meeting. A child is over 50% more likely to die if hit at 50 km, rather than 40 km/hr... it's not rocket science that the faster you go, the longer it takes to stop and any impact will be greater. 50 is just way too fast!

J   #1   12:34 pm Jan 29 2012

So what's the speed limit going past schools?

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