28 January 2014

Slow Down Around Schools

All road users are asked to take extra care as 261,000 Auckland children head back to school this week. The return to school means more people on the roads in cars, on bikes or walking.

Children aged 5 to 14 make up 27 per cent of all pedestrian injuries in the Auckland region and the most dangerous time for them is after school between 3pm and 4pm.

Motorists need to watch out for the 40 km p/hour special speed zones around schools which are operating again. Parents or caregivers dropping off children are reminded that stopping and parking restrictions often apply around school gates and they must take care to obey the rules.

To coincide with the new school year, Auckland Transport is running Back to School promotions at around 40 schools.

Auckland Transport’s Community Transport Manager, Matthew Rednall, says Auckland Transportalso promotes a number of other school-related road safety activities. There are 359 Walking School Buses and 375 schools in the Travelwise programme which involves 190,000 children.

Travelwise is an innovative schools-based programme that aims to improve road safety and achieve a reduction in the number of vehicles driving to and from school at peak times. It does this through encouraging and increasing alternative modes of travel, and providing safer facilities for all road users.

For more information: www.aucklandtransport.govt.nz

ENDS

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