Speed kills kids
From February 2007, Police will strictly enforce the speed limit within 250 metres on each side of a school's boundaries. If you drive past a school at 55 km/h in a 50 km/h area, you will be ticketed.
This change is happening because speed around schools is a major public health and road safety issue. Between 2001 and 2005, around 500 child pedestrians and cyclists were injured or killed each year during school terms.
Driving at 50 km/h, by the time you react to an unexpected event and apply the brakes, it will take you 41 metres to stop (nearly two cricket pitches, nearly half a football field).
Driving at 50 km/h, you travel nearly 20 metres while reacting and moving your foot to the brake pedal; if a child was 20 metres from the car, you would still be travelling close to 50 km/h when you hit the child.
A healthy adult struck at 50 km/h has about a 40% chance of being killed - for a child, the odds are much worse.
In the urban environment, a child struck by a vehicle travelling at 60 km/hour has only a 15% chance of survival. When the impact speed is reduced to 50 km/hour, the chance of survival increases to 55%.
Police Speed Enforcement Policy
The current Police speed policy specifies that:
Drivers of vehicles other than heavy motor vehicles who exceed the speed limit by less than 11km/h will not normally be issued with an infringement notice providing their speed does not present a risk to public safety in the prevailing circumstances.
These principles do not constitute a mandate for drivers to exceed the speed limit. In some circumstances exceeding the speed limit by less than 11km/h will pose road safety risks.
Speed Kills Kids Programme
In the vicinity of schools, particularly during the high-risk morning and afternoon periods, a significant risk is posed to school children by speeding drivers and it is considered that a lower enforcement tolerance by both speed cameras and staff is critical to reducing child pedestrian casualties. Therefore Police will strictly enforce a 4 km/hour tolerance within 250 meters on each side of school boundaries to counter a quantifiable and publicly obvious road safety risk.
This initiative provides a sound and logical way in which to stimulate public debate around the impact of travel speed on pedestrian injury severity and to reduce the road safety risks to children travelling to and from school.
Further questions and answers
Why are Police bringing in these restrictions?
In the last five years over 1200 child pedestrians have been killed or injured during school terms. In the vicinity of schools, particularly during the high risk morning and afternoon periods, a significant risk is posed to school children by speeding drivers and it is considered that a lower enforcement tolerance by both speed cameras and staff is critical to reducing child pedestrian casualties.
What are they actually going to do?
Strictly enforce a 4 km/hour tolerance within 250 meters on each side of school and preschool boundaries during high use times.
When will it happen?
The new policy will be implemented on February 7th 2007 when the majority of schools, kindergartens, play centres and other organisations return for the start of the school year.
Where exactly will these restrictions begin and end?
Within 250 meters on each side of school boundaries
Will it apply to all schools?
Yes and also preschools, kindergartens, Kohanaga Reo ,play centres etc,
How long will it apply?
There is no proposed suspension of this policy.
What times will it apply?
The enforcement will be a risk basis. This means that in general speed enforcement and speed camera deployment times will be between 7.30 - am and 6 pm week days when the majority of children are arriving or leaving school. However, it may also occur at other high risk times when the school is being used for events such as sports events, gals and other school-based activities.
Why don't they just enforce the actual speed limit?
There can sometimes be small variations and fluctuations in the accuracy of the speedometers in some cars and the tolerance allows for this.
What about special circumstances like children late for school?
Police Officers always have the discretion to consider special circumstances but in the vast majority of situations, Police will exercise zero tolerance.
Where will all these police come from?
Road Policing staff rosters will be adjusted to include this programme but no extra staff will be deployed. Police Education Officers, who work with school and other educational institutions, will also be on hand to assist.
If Police are concentrated outside schools, what about the rest of the community?
Police will continue to enforce the road laws in other areas.
Will they be fixed cameras?
In some cases fixed cameras will be used but the majority will be mobile cameras.
Who do we complain to if we see someone speeding near our school?
You should contact your local Road Policing Manager.
Will there be any warning in signs or other material to let everyone know what's happening?
Land Transport NZ and Police have developed a national advertising campaign to support the programme. This includes television advertising featuring school principals, radio advertising, billboards, print advertisements in all national newspapers and information supplied to schools.
How can I get this information?
NZ Police and LandTransport NZ websites will carry information about the programme.
What do I do if I get speeding ticket?
How much will I have to pay?
Speeding tickets issued will be no different from any other speeding tickets and the amount depends on the speed you are travelling at.
Under 11km per hr over the permanent posted speed limit, the fine will be in the vicinity of $30. Fines increase exponentially with your increase in speed. If you are detected driving 41km over the speed limit, there will be mandatory suspension of your licence.
See also
Who thinks we should be tough on speeders around schools?
2 page PDF brochure, 115 KB.
