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Southland kids glow
The programme, called ‘Vests in Schools’, was started in Southland by the Mataura Lions Club and funded by the Road Safety Southland Charitable Trust. Initially the programme was trialled for one year and rolled out to schools in October 2005 with the help of Police Education Officers, including Gore’s Senior Constable Linda Graham and Invercargill’s Constable Helen Todd. Linda says the programme has taught children to be aware of their own safety, traffic dangers and benefits of why they should wear the vests. “Parents and other road users - especially truck drivers, who often find it difficult to see small children, are very supportive of the programme,” says Linda. Helen agrees. “The vests are great on rural roads where traffic is travelling at high speeds and around school buses. There have been a few near misses with kids running out on roads.” Because of higher need and availability of funding the vests are being rolled out to rural schools first. Of the 73 primary schools in Southland 21 have the vests and 17 are considering. For the schools to accept the ‘Vests for Schools’ programme they must agree to work alongside their Police Education Officer. |
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You can’t miss the kids of Southland thanks to a programme to issue
them with high-visibility vests.