Police Remind Drivers To Be School And Kids Aware As School Starts

Police are reminding drivers to watch their speed and keep an eye out for children as schools begin to reopen for 2016.

‘‘Drivers need to be extra vigilant around schools, and keep in mind that children are highly unpredictable and likely to be very excited about catching up with friends, so they can be easily distracted and not paying much attention to their surroundings,” community services manager Inspector Paula Holt, of Wellington, said.

‘‘We need to do everything we can to safeguard our kids as they walk or cycle to school – some of them for the first time,” Insp Holt said.

‘‘Slow down in and near school zones, and take care when passing school buses.”

The speed limit is 20kmh when passing school buses dropping off or picking up children.

Motorists were also reminded that there was a permanent 4kmh speed threshold in place around schools. This meant that anyone exceeding the speed limit by more than 4kmh in the vicinity of a school could expect to receive a ticket, she said.