AUCKLAND CITY COUNCIL

MEDIA RELEASE

19 June 2007

New 40km/h school speed zones target speedsters

Another six Auckland schools are benefiting from reduced speeds after Auckland City Council introduced 40km/h speed zones to help it safer for children in these areas.

A total of eight school speed zones are now operating at high risk schools in Auckland city, with a further 12 to be introduced in the new financial year as part of the speed zone programme.

Speed zones of 40km/h approaching schools are designed to make it easier and safer for children to walk to school.

Councillor Richard Simpson says he is pleased that Auckland City Council is taking a strong stance against speedsters.

“According to research, traffic crashes are one of the biggest killers of school age children,” says Mr Simpson.

“We want to make walking to school an attractive and easy choice for youngsters and making it safer is a vital way we can make a difference.”

The schools that have received speed zones in the last month are:

- Ruapotaka Primary, Glen Innes

- Te Papapa School, Onehunga

- Christ the King School, Mt Roskill

- St Mary’s School, Avondale

- Three Kings School, Three Kings

- St Heliers School, St Heliers.

These schools were selected using Land Transport New Zealand criteria that states there must be high speeds past the school and a significant level of on-road, school related activity before and after school.

The next 12 schools to receive speed zones are yet to be confirmed and will be selected based on the criteria outlined above.

ENDS

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