Back to school: Keeping children safe on our roads

Police in Central District are calling for increased awareness and consideration to ensure the safety of children in and around schools so that no school children become victims on our roads.

The new school year gets under way this week and children are particularly vulnerable as they travel to and from school on foot, and on bikes or scooters.

Many may be starting school for the first time and children are easily distracted by friends, surroundings and may not appreciate the dangers and risks.

Officer in Charge of the Central District Highway patrol, Senior Sergeant Kris Burbery said: "Over the next couple of weeks we will be increasing patrols around schools in both rural and urban areas. Road safety and the protection of our children is everyone's responsibility and it is important that motorists are alert, careful, considerate and patient."

Police staff will be not only have a major presence around schools but will also be enforcing any parking offending and monitoring the speed of vehicles around schools.

"Motorists should be aware that there is a 4 km/h tolerance for speed in the vicinity of a school, however given the risks, drivers should be prepared for anything unexpected or congestion on the roads and ensure they drive to the conditions at the time. This would generally require a driver to travel well under that speed limit," said Senior Sergeant Burbery

Police staff will also be checking that all occupants of vehicles are wearing seatbelts and other required restraints. This will include young children and infants who are required to use child restraints and booster seats.

"There is no excuse for anyone in a vehicle to not be wearing a seatbelt or be suitably restrained"

Parents are also being urged to discuss with their children road safety and ensure their children have coats and bags that make them highly visible and the right safety equipment if cycling to school.

ENDS

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