19 December 2016

Media Release

New variable school speed zones for Brightwater and Motueka

New 40kmh variable speed zones will be installed at Brightwater School and Motueka High School in the next phase of school safety improvements by the Tasman District Council.

The flashing 40kmh signs will warn drivers to slow down at the start and end of the school day, and are likely to be installed in Term One 2017 pending approval from the New Zealand Transport Agency.

In addition to the variable 40kmh zones for Brightwater and Motueka, the Council plans to install electronic school warning sides at Richmond Primary School, as well as replacing and installing new static school warning signs at Parklands, Riwaka, Upper Moutere, Tasman, Wakefield, Tasman Bay Christian, Tapawera Area and Collingwood Area schools.

Tasman District Council Engineering Services Committee chairman Stuart Bryant said the new speed zones and improved signage would help ease the concern of schools and parents about the safety of children travelling to and from school.

“The safety of our District’s school children is really important, and we’ve been working with the schools to identify the best ways to reduce the risks their students face on the way to and from school. Not all schools qualify for a variable 40kmh zone – NZTA has very specific criteria for that – but improved signage can make a difference also. We’re also looking at options for improving parking capacity and engineering measures for promoting slower speeds at some schools.”

The latest signage improvements are the second stage of the Council’s project to improve safety signage outside schools.

In 2016, 40kmh variable speed zones were installed at Ranzau, Hope and Motupipi schools, along with static signs and other signage improvements at a further seven schools.

“The next phase of work will be to look at the schools in the vicinity of Salisbury Road,” Cr Bryant said. “The project to improve signage complements the proactive work we do each year offering road safety education and training for schools, as well as the general public, to make our roads safer.”

ENDS

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