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THE INDEPENDENT VOICE OF MID CANTERBURY
Police to target 20km rule BY MYLES HUME
clamp down on the 20km/h rule when passing a stationary school bus. Police are expected to heavily enforce the law later this year. Mid Canterbury Principals’ Association president Neil Simons said rural roads posed the biggest risk for the district’s pupils. “Kids don’t think like adults, they don’t understand vehicle speed, it’s a hard thing to judge for all of us. Kids don’t have the maturity and can jump off the bus and in front of a car,”
MYLES.H@THEGUARDIAN.CO.NZ
More than a third of Mid Canterbury drivers are breaking the law and endangering the safety of children by speeding past stationary school buses. Almost 700 Mid Cantabrians completed a survey which found 41 per cent of motorists normally exceeded the 20km/h speed limit when passing a school bus that’s dropping off or picking up children. It also emerged 35 per cent were not aware of the legal speed limit. The survey is part of a national trial by Ashburton Pearson’s Coachlines, Rural Women New Zealand, the council and other organisations to
he said. “It’s not a big deal to slow down for a bus, but it could be a big deal if you get a speeding ticket or even kill someone.” Pearson’s Coachlines manager Mark Cook said the 30-strong fleet would have 20km/h flashing LED signs installed on either end of the buses by the end of this month. He said following the installation, results from a speed detector attached to one of
the buses would be compared with research prior the trial to judge if driving behaviour had changed and speeding around school buses had reduced. Police are then expected to crack down on motorists from October 21, and nab speedy Mid Canterbury drivers around school buses. New Zealand Transport Agency safety programme co-ordinator Lee Wright said there was obviously little knowledge about the law, but it was vital drivers knew. “If the trial is a success the signs would be approved as an option for use on school buses throughout New Zealand,” Ms Wright said.
THE FACTS ■ Drivers cannot exceed 20km/h when passing stationary school buses dropping off or picking up pupils. ■ 41 per cent normally exceed limit ■ 35 per cent unaware of the law ■ 34 per cent feel it’s safe to pass a school bus faster than 20km/h
A Mid Canterbury motorist speeds past a Pearsons school bus yesterday, something which roading authorities hope to PHOTO DONNA WYLIE 050813-DW-216 reduce in the coming months.
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