Schools helped with road safety

Schools helped with road safety

New resource launched today, visit:
http://www.roadsafeauckland.org.nz

A major step forward in road safety was taken today when a comprehensive road safety resource for schools was launched by the Auckland Regional Council and RoadSafe Auckland. The resource aims at making the school journey safer in the region by encouraging school communities to identify and tackle their road safety issues collaboratively with education, engineering and enforcement agencies.

The resource, which outlines a problem-solving approach and contains a CD-ROM of tools, was developed by education, road safety, and safe routes to school co-ordinators. It will be provided free to Principals and Boards of Trustees of at-risk schools, and its use will be facilitated by Road Safety Co-ordinators. Other schools and interested parties can also access the resource directly via the internet from www.roadsafeauckland.org.nz.

Peter Kippenberger, Regional Manager for the Land Transport Safety Authority said "Over 30% of pedestrian injuries in the Auckland region occur to school aged children on their way to or from school, but generally not on the school crossing."

Donna Goodwin, Team Leader Transport for the Auckland Regional Council, and RoadSafe Auckland Convenor said, "Schools have always played an important role in teaching road safety to our children. This initiative aims to link schools with other key road safety agencies and their broader communities."

Over the last few years a vicious cycle has developed where increasing traffic volume has increased parents' fears about children walking and so more parents become reluctant to let their children walk. Donna Goodwin said, "It is time to address this cycle, and this resource will help, especially as more schools adopt Walking School Buses, councils improve the road environment for pedestrians, and we all take on a more positive approach to road safety."

For more information, please do not hesitate in contacting:

a.. RoadSafe Auckland, Martin Dawe (09-378-1843 or 025-53-33-83) b.. LTSA, Peter Kippenberger (09-357-1607) End

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