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Driving home safer speeds around schools
AUCKLAND CITY COUNCIL
MEDIA RELEASE
23 February 2007
Driving home safer speeds around schools
Auckland City Council is walking the talk by rolling out the first in a series of formal 40km/h school speed zones for the city following the success of a trial project.
The speed zone was launched this morning at Mt Albert’s Gladstone Primary School on Carrington Road, which has traffic volumes of up to 22,000 vehicles a day.
Gladstone Primary, with support from Auckland City Council, started New Zealand’s first walking school bus in 1999.
Councillor Richard Simpson, Transport and Urban Linkages Committee chairperson, says following on from the success of a speed zone trial at St Josephs School in Onehunga last year, Gladstone Primary was a key candidate for the 40km/h road safety initiative.
“Gladstone is situated on a busy arterial road and has a large number of pupils coming and going before and after school.
“It already has three walking school buses and this new speed zone will help make other parents confident that their children can safely walk to school,” says Mr Simpson.
“The introduction of speed zones to make it safer and easier for children to walk to school is part of our coordinated plan to ease traffic on Auckland roads. More than 40 per cent of traffic during peak times in Auckland is education related and we’re determined to reduce that figure,” he says.
Transport Minister Annette King, who switched on the electronic signage for the first time, says that in the last five years, an average of one child a week has been involved in traffic crashes in Auckland city, with more than 50 per cent of crashes during morning and afternoon travel to and from school.
“From today, it will be safer for Gladstone students whether they’re walking or coming to school by car,” says Ms King.
“As Police Minister and Transport Minister, and the former Minister of Health, it’s important to keep thinking of ways to make it safer for kids to get to school under their own steam.”
Other high priority schools identified for school speed zones this financial year are:
- Ruapotaka Primary, Glen Innes
- Te Papapa School, Onehunga
- Christ the King, Mt Roskill
- St Mary’s School, Avondale
- Three Kings School, Three Kings
- St Heliers School, St Heliers
ENDS
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