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Part Time 40km/h School Speed Zone Trial
Strong support for Christchurch's school speed zone trial has been noted in a recent SRTS evaluation of their effectiveness. School communities in the five trial sites, along with a section of the general motoring public, took part in the evaluation. They were asked questions on their attitudes towards, and perceptions of, the trial.
Results analysed so far from those surveyed include:
- 93% saying that they would like to see more school speed zones in Christchurch
- 90% saying that they have noticed lower vehicle speeds when the speed zone is active
- 81% saying that they drive below 40km/h when the speed zone is active
- 79% saying the school speed zones have raised child road safety
- 76% saying that their awareness of children has been raised by the presence of the school speed zone
The full evaluation of the school speed zone trial, including speed data collected by the Land Transport Safety Authority, will be available later in the year. The two year trial started in January 2000, and is unique in New Zealand. It aims to provide a safer environment for children to travel to school, to increase driver awareness of children, and to encourage drivers to modify their behaviour accordingly.
New 'SRTS Crossing Point' Signs
| A new tool has been developed to improve the safety of the school journey. Special signs have been developed that read 'Safe Routes To School Crossing Point', and include a novel blackboard style graphic of two children. The signs seek to address known child pedestrian risk factors such as crashes at mid block crossing locations. They aim to:
- Encourage child pedestrians and cyclists to use the crossing facilities provided
- Improve safety by increasing the prominence and visibility of the crossing area
- Encourage a safe route to school
- Cue traffic to be more aware of pedestrian and cyclist movements
- Promote a culture of child road safety in general
It is planned to install the first batch of SRTS Crossing Point signs as the year progresses.
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SRTS Investigations
A current SRTS road safety investigation is being carried out at Somerfield School. This time limited to those walking or cycling to school, children are being asked to identify their routes to school and to note locations that pose a road safety hazard. Any school in Christchurch can get involved in a SRTS road safety investigation.
Council Speed Trailer Available to Schools
Annoyed at vehicles speeding past your school? Want to do something positive about it? Why not use our static speed trailer! We're making it free to Christchurch schools to use. We're booked up for the second term - get in touch now for next term.
We've noticed many vehicles lowering their speeds when they see how fast they have been going. The speed trailer also lends itself to practical class work for children through going out and tallying vehicle speeds and fines that are shown.
The speed trailer is an electronic device attached to a custom-made trailer to display the speeds of passing vehicles. Placing it on the roadside reminds drivers how fast they are going. The speed trailer also shows the size of the fine that drivers face if they are travelling faster than the posted limit.
The speed trailer in action near Ilam School
Kea Crossings - Trial Over, Approval Now Given
It's official: The 'Kea Crossing' trial is over. Local councils now have the delegated authority to place Kea Crossings at suitable school locations, and where certain traffic conditions are met. In Christchurch, St Albans School was one of the first schools to receive a Kea Crossing under these recently passed traffic regulations.
A new style of school patrol, Kea Crossings were designed so that school patrols can better control traffic, and safely guide children across the street where pedestrian crossings or traffic signals are absent. They only operate when a police-trained school patrol, an adult supervisor and specially designed flag signs are present. A key to their success is a strong commitment from schools to roster children and adults to operate and supervise the facility.
St Albans children at the official opening
of their school's Kea Crossing
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