The New Zealand Police aims to assist children and young people to:

• respect their body and mind
• understand the negative impact that behaviour-altering substances have on individuals, whānau and the community
• be able to resist and encourage others to resist the abuse of behaviour-altering substances.

Before implementing education on alcohol and other drugs, please read the guidelines for drug education.

NOTE: This section is currently under review.

The New Zealand Police would like to thank all those who were involved in the development and trials of the Road Safe and Rail Safe series since its inception.

In particular we thank the following people involved with year-level resources.

Years 0–1 and 2–3

Special thanks also to those who contributed to the programme in a number of ways, especially:

• Alan Bagnall, for the poems Midnight Traffic; The Most; Cars, Cars, Everywhere
• Bev Kemp, for the poem Traffic
• New Zealand Transport Agency
• McDonald’s™ Corporation
• Ministry of Education and Learning Media for use of the following publications:
• Midnight Traffic (illustrated by Tom Scott) in School Journal Part 1 Number 2, 1992
• Traffic (illustrated by Wol Jobson) in School Journal Part 1 Number 1, 1994
• The Most (illustrated by Philip Webb) in School Journal Part 1 number 4, 1995
• Cars, Cars, Everywhere in School Journal Part 1 Number 5, 1991
• Illustrations by Adele Jackson, Bob Kerr and Rogelio Carles-Rosas

Years 4–6

• Janice Marriott, for Walking Home, A Born Rider
• Kingi McKinnon, for Grounded  in School Journal 1994 Part 3 No 1
• Norman Bilbrough, for Red Mark in School Journal 1994 Part 3 No 2
• Tui Allen, for Wipeout Gulch in School Journal 1995 Part 3 No 2
• Aaron Schiff, for Failing Brakes in School Journal 1988 Part 3 No 1
• Louise Tomlinson, for The Skateboard Ramp in School Journal 1995 Part 3 No 3
• Illustrated by Jo Maxwell

Years 7–8

Years 9–10

Years 11–13

Special thanks also to those who contributed to the programme in a number of ways, especially:

• The D.A.R.E. Foundation of New Zealand
• SADD
• L New Zealand Transport Agency  
• Play The Party by Judith Holloway

The Road Safe series of resources provide learning activities to empower students to participate safely as responsible road users who are aware of their own place in the traffic environment, as well as that of others.

In their original form, the Road Safe resources for years 11-13 were called Dare to Drive to Survive.

What students will learn

These year 11-13 resources will help students to learn about:

• attitudes to drink driving
• consequences of a drink-drive crash
• bystander actions to prevent drink-drive crashes
• what the law says
• pressure to drive after drinking, or to get in a car with a drunk driver
• planning that is necessary to run a function as a responsible host
• the aims of SADD and how to set up a SADD group.

Five focus areas

Learning activities are arranged in five focus areas.

Focus area 1: Attitudes to drink driving

In this focus area, students are introduced to the topic of drink-driving. They are given the opportunity to identify values and attitudes that they, and their community, have about driving after drinking. They consider why young people, in particular, drink and drive, even when they know the consequences.

• Focus area 1: Attitudes to drink driving (PDF, 180KB)
• Focus area 1: Attitudes to drink driving (Word, 130KB)

Focus area 2: Consequences

In this focus area students identify with those involved in a drink-drive crash, explore the possible consequences of a drink-drive crash, and consider what bystanders in particular could do to prevent such crashes.

• Focus area 2: Consequences (PDF, 180KB)
• Focus area 2: Consequences (Word, 122KB)

Focus area 3: What the law says

In this focus area students consider why it is unsafe to drive after drinking. They examine what the drink-drive laws say with regard to the under-20 driver and consider penalties for breaking the drink-drive laws. Information is given about tests for alcohol and drugs and the individual’s rights and responsibilities with regard to these.

• Focus area 3: What the law says (PDF, 134KB)
• Focus area 3: What the law says (Word, 123KB)

Focus area 4: Pressure

In this focus area, students examine reasons why people feel pressured to drive after drinking, or to get in a car with a drunk driver. They explore strategies for handling this pressure. They are given the opportunity to share these strategies.

• Focus area 4: Pressure (PDF, 98KB)
• Focus area 4: Pressure (Word, 100KB)

Focus area 5: Thinking ahead

In this focus area, students use a planning process to run a function as a responsible host.  They become familiar with the aims of Students Against Driving Drunk (SADD) and consider setting up a SADD group at their school, if there is not already one in existence. 

• Focus area 5: Thinking ahead (PDF, 107KB)
• Focus area 5: Thinking ahead (Word, 146KB)

Note: The Year 9-10 Road Safe activities have been withdrawn. Alternative resources can be found on the NZ Transport Agency Education Portal.

The Road Safe series of resources provides learning activities to empower students to participate safely as responsible road users who are aware of their own place in the traffic environment, as well as that of others.

What students will learn

These year 7-8 resources will help students to learn:

• about traffic laws
• how to observe road hazards
• a range of safe practices that they can use when using the road (e.g., for cycling, running).

Five focus areas

Learning activities are arranged in five focus areas.

Focus area 1: Safety checks

Students and parents are provided with information in preparation for a cycle safety programme.

• Safety checks (PDF, 3.2MB)
• Safety checks (DOC, 3.2MB)

Focus area 2: Out and about in traffic

Students identify safe and unsafe practices when arriving at and leaving school. They assess risk-taking behaviour, consider hazards they may encounter on the road and look at ways of handling these.

• Out and about in traffic (PDF, 3.2MB)
• Out and about in traffic (DOC, 3.2MB)

Focus area 3: Out and about responsibly

Students consider the rights, responsibilities and laws of road users. Students identify how they learn traffic behaviour. They take action to solve a transport problem in their local community.

• Out and about responsibly (PDF, 3.2MB)
• Out and about responsibly (DOC, 3.2MB)

Focus area 4: Cycling out and about

Students learn traffic law as new cyclists. They practise negotiating intersections and giving hand signals. Students practise cycling skills on cycling courses in the school grounds and then on the road.

• Cycling out and about (PDF, 3.2MB)
• Cycling out and about (DOC 3.2MB)

Focus area 5: Out and about socially

Students consider the part that roads can play in social activities like road running or travelling around the country and how to do these safely. 

• Out and about socially (PDF, 3.2MB)
• Out and about socially (DOC, 3.2MB)

The Road Safe series of resources provides learning activities to empower students to participate safely as responsible road users who are aware of their own place in the traffic environment, as well as that of others.

What students will learn

These year 4-6 resources will help students to learn:

• about traffic laws
• how to observe road hazards
• a range of safe practices that they can use when using the road e.g. as a pedestrian and passenger
• basic cycling skills in a controlled environment.

Four focus areas

Learning activities are arranged in four focus areas.

Focus area 1: Passenger and pedestrian

The teacher assesses students’ road safety skills and knowledge and uses a practical walking activity to solidify their knowledge about simple safe pedestrian and passenger skills.

• Passenger and pedestrian (PDF, 3.2MB)
• Passenger and pedestrian (DOC, 3.2MB)

Focus area 2: Safe cycling

Students learn the basics of cycle maintenance and how to select and fit a cycle helmet. Parents and caregivers are supported to ensure their children have safe cycle helmets and bikes.

• Safe cycling (PDF, 3.2MB)
• Safe cycling (DOC, 3.2MB)

Focus area 3: Cycling with confidence

Students practise Grade 1 cycling skills in a controlled and supportive environment. These bike control skills include getting on and off a bike and manoeuvring safely to avoid objects.

• Cycling with confidence (PDF, 3.2MB)
• Cycling with confidence (DOC, 3.2MB)

Focus area 4: Preparing for future on-road cycling

Students learn about traffic laws and relevant signs that affect them as pedestrians and as future cyclists on the road. They consider hazards as future road cyclists and how to handle these hazards.

• Preparing for future on-road cycling (PDF, 3.2MB)
• Preparing for future on-road cycling (DOC, 3.2MB)

The Road Safe series of resources provides learning activities to empower students to participate safely as responsible road users who are aware of their own place in the traffic environment, as well as that of others.

What students will learn

These year 2-3 resources will help students to learn:

• about traffic safety and traffic laws
• how to observe road hazards
• a range of safe practices that they can use when using the road as a pedestrian and passenger.

Four focus areas

Learning activities are arranged in four focus areas.

Focus area 1: Roads and traffic

Students learn why there are rules to keep safe on the way to and from school. They learn to identify parts of the road, specific road signs and markings, and where they are safest.

• Roads and traffic (PDF, 1MB)
• Roads and traffic (DOC, 828KB)

Focus area 2: On the move

Students learn the skills to walk safely on or near the road and to cross the road correctly.

• On the move (PDF, 2.8MB)
• On the move (DOC, 3.6B)

Focus area 3: By bus or by car

Students develop safety guidelines for travelling in a car or a bus.

• By bus or by car (PDF, 458KB)
• By bus or by car (DOC, 254KB)

Focus area 4: Managing hazards

Students recognise potential hazards in the traffic environment and make decisions about how to manage them. They consider who can help them in a traffic situation. They explore safe places to play.

• Managing hazards (PDF, 1.4MB)
• Managing hazards (DOC, 2.9MB)

The Road Safe series of resources provides learning activities to empower students to participate safely as responsible road users who are aware of their own place in the traffic environment, as well as that of others.

What students will learn

These resources will help students to learn:

• about the traffic environment
• how to observe road hazards
• a range of safe practices that they can use when using the road as a pedestrian and passenger.

Four focus areas

Learning activities are arranged in four focus areas.

Focus area 1: Roads and traffic

Students learn about the appropriate place for different types of traffic on the road. They learn the safest place for children to be and identify simple signs and markings.

• Roads and traffic (PDF, 1.3MB)
• Roads and traffic (DOC, 4.7MB)

Focus area 2: On the move 

Students learn the skills to walk safely on or near the road and to cross the road correctly. They learn these skills initially in the classroom and practise them through a practical class excursion.

• On the move (PDF, 834KB)
• On the move (DOC, 416KB)

Focus area 3: By bus or by car

Students develop safety guidelines when travelling in a car. They practise putting on their safety belts and can explain why they must always wear them.

• By bus or by car (PDF, 551KB)
• By bus or by car (DOC, 345KB)

Focus area 4: Managing hazards

Students recognise potential hazards in the traffic environment and will make decisions about how to manage them. They consider who can help them in a traffic situation. They explore safe places to play.

• Managing hazards (PDF, 1MB)
• Managing hazards (DOC, 1.7MB)

Helping Hands / Road Safe Activity Book

The booklet is divided into two parts:

• Helping Hands provides parents with ideas for practical things they can do to teach their child to keep safe on the road. Topics include passenger, pedestrian, cyclists, crossings, road markings, and the school patrol.
• Road Safe Activity Book provides fun road safety activities that children will enjoy doing. It will give them helpful information about keeping safe on the road. Each topic has a question. The answer to the question is in the Helping Hands section.

• Helping Hands / Road Safe Activity Book (combined booklet) (PDF, 6.6MB)
• Helping Hands (separate booklet) (PDF, 1.7MB)
• Road Safe Activity Book (separate booklet) (PDF, 2.1MB)