Relief safety steps on way

Pupils in close calls with vehicles

PRINCIPAL Gareth Swete has lost count of the number of near misses his pupils have had with vehicles outside Sawyers Bay School.

Despite the stringent safety protocols in place at the school, there had been several close calls already this year, he said.

The school started formally raising concerns about the dangers of the road layout with the Dunedin City Council six years ago, and he was relieved road safety improvements might soon come to fruition.

‘‘It’s not being too extreme to say there have been near misses over the years. That’s why we brought it to the attention of the DCC.

‘‘I’m quite aware there have been incidents this year already where children have almost been collected by vehicles.’’

He said the main safety concern was the roundabout at the intersection of Stevenson Ave, Hall Rd and Station Rd.

‘‘It’s a hot spot for us because cars travel rather fast through the roundabout, and indicating is often optional out here.

‘‘You mix that with the fact that there is really no safe place on the two main roads into Sawyers Bay where children can cross safely.

‘‘Visibility is quite poor and the footpath is not much better.’’

As a result, the council has been working with the school on a proposal to improve pedestrian safety around the intersection.

The DCC has proposed installing raised crossings on Hall Rd and Station Rd to make it safer to cross the road by improving visibility and slowing traffic.

It has also proposed installing raised islands at the approaches to the roundabout to narrow the approaches and encourage drivers to follow the traffic lane around the roundabout.

Community consultation on the proposals will conclude at the end of the month.

Mr Swete said the proposals were proving popular with the Sawyers Bay community and he was excited something was being done.

‘‘Anything to encourage children to walk to school, and do so safely, is just gold in our mind.

‘‘We can help manage the children’s behaviour during the course of the school day, but we’re a hub of the community — there’s nowhere else for them to play in Sawyers Bay.

‘‘They’re often down here on the weekends and the holidays, so having something permanently there to help them get here safely would be just tremendous.’’

The work will be part of the council’s minorimprovement safety programme.

❛ It’s a hot spot for us because cars travel rather fast through the

roundabout