Auckland City Council
Media release

11 February 2009

Council extends 40km/h school zones for greater safety of children

Council initiatives to reduce serious and fatal injuries on Auckland’s roads will include creating new 40km/h speed zones for a further 16 schools before the end of June.

Since 2006, 23 schools have had School Zones implemented, following the initiative’s first trial, at St Joseph’s School in Onehunga.

More than 300 on-road crashes involving pedestrians and cyclists aged five to 18 were recorded between 2003 and 2007 in Auckland city. With over half of these happening on journeys to and from school, Councillor John Lister, deputy chairperson of the transport committee, says safety of children on our roads is still a big concern.

“Speeding outside schools cannot be tolerated. Children deserve to be safe, especially when travelling to and from school.

“We welcome the extension of school speed zones, as the initiative has been well tested and successfully implemented in many schools already. Speeds have reduced – on average by 5km/h at the schools evaluated – and feedback from the New Zealand Police and schools show a high level of compliance.”

Mr Lister says the council’s ongoing traffic safety programme also continues to address various other issues, contributing directly to the region’s reduction goals for traffic accidents. He says the goal is to reduce all fatal and serious crashes to 105 a year by 2012, in Auckland city. The goal for the regional as a whole is to reduce fatal and serious crashes to 400 a year by 2012.

“We are looking at road improvements to address high-risk areas or “black spots” within the city, and we will continue with the red-light camera pilot begun last year to reduce motorists running red lights. We will also continue actions to reduce red-light running by cyclists, which will further improve safety for pedestrians.”

Mr Lister says a report on the red-light pilot is expected to be presented to the New Zealand Transport Agency in June. Actions taken on Queen Street in Auckland’s CBD include a 30km/h speed limit and double light phasing at intersections, attracting a positive response from residents and commuters.

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