Media release
8 February 2006

Back to school warning – be careful, be very careful where you park

People parking illegally around schools are about to be stung in their pockets.

Waitakere City Parking Services warns that they are watching the roads beside the city’s schools very closely. For the first month of the school year the Officers will spend time advising motorists of the implications of any parking offences the drivers may have committed however they will still issue infringement notices for any serious breaches of traffic indiscipline.

The extra vigilance will include taking digital photographs of offenders’ cars.

“Then the excuse ‘it wasn’t me’ does not hold up,” says Councillor Janet Clews, Chair of the Finance and Operational Committee.

“Back to school time invariably brings problems, so we are doing a major push to keep the roads safe.

“Many parents seem to think it is imperative to drive their children to school, even when they are within walking distance of the school. The unfortunate thing is that when everyone thinks this way, the result is a traffic tangle, which is unsafe for everyone concerned – children, parents, teachers and members of the public,” says Councillor Clews.

All school principals in Waitakere City have been sent a poster with an official warning to parents that when they park illegally, they will be ticketed by either the Council Enforcement Team or the NZ Police.

“Waitakere City Council, LTNZ and the Ministry of Education have been working together to solve the school traffic problem. ‘Walking school buses’ and staggering school start and finish times in busy school zones are just two of the ways they are trying to improve the safety situation around schools,” says Councillor Clews.

The busiest zones include Keegan Drive, Rathgar Rd-Edwards Ave, Strid and Don Buck Roads.

And now for the flip-side: lollipops will be awarded to motorists showing consideration in school traffic zones.

ENDS

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