8 February 2005

Stopping distance demonstrations aim to slow traffic

Four spectacular stopping distance demonstrations, complete with fast cars, cut-out figures and fake blood, are planned outside local schools in the next few weeks to help slow drivers down.

To support road safety in Canterbury, the Christchurch City Council and its road safety partners plan a series of speed stopping distance demonstrations at 6.30pm at: Sumner School, Hardwick Street, on Tuesday, 15 February; Bamford School, Gould Crescent, on Tuesday, 22 February; Mairehau High School, Hills Road, on Tuesday, 1 March, and Aranui High School, Shortland Street, on Tuesday, 8 March, to show how far a car will travel before it stops when the driver brakes.

It has been proven in safety tests that a slower speed means less likelihood of a crash and lesser injuries should a crash occur. Pedestrians hit by a vehicle travelling at 30km an hour have a 5% risk of death. Pedestrians hit by a vehicle travelling at 70km an hour have a 95% risk of death.

“Nowhere is it more important to emphasise the impact of speeding than outside our schools, so we are inviting the schools and their wider communities to join us so that we can help make our roads safer,” says Christchurch Road Safety Coordinator Susan Cambridge.

ENDS

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