Media release
8 August 2005
Oratia school lights up to reduce speeding cars
Oratia District School is about to become the second school in the North Island to have a 40km school zone with solar
lights, following a launch today at 2.30pm.
The school in Shaw Road is in a 50km/h zone but, before and after school, large solar signs will flash to alert
motorists to slow down to 40km/h.
Speeding motorists are a problem on this rural road. Speed tubes have clocked cars doing speeds in excess of 100km/h
outside the school on a regular basis.
“Our country is coming to grips with the impact of speed on our roads. You could say that in many ways our nation is in
denial around speed. It’s a worry, how many of our boys have to be picked out of drains. Innocent children going to and
from school are at risk,” says Deputy Mayor Carolynne Stone.
“Waitakere City took the ground-breaking step of erecting the first 40km solar signs in the North Island at Waitakere
Primary School six months ago. We are leading the way, particularly at Local Government conferences, to have 40km zones
around all schools for half an hour before and after school – however this is being blocked by rural councils.
“Our children and mokopuna (grandchildren) at Oratia will be that much safer with the installation of the 40km school
zone,” she says.
40km School Zones can only be put in certain environments where there is a speed problem, and must meet a set of
criteria from Land Transport NZ.
Waitakere City is currently assisting a community at Waiuku to get a 40km zone outside a school where there is a 100km
zone.
ENDS