Lower speeds needed near schools
Speed limits around the district’s schools may be reviewed but the Timaru District Council will await the outcome of a Government review before implementing any changes.
The Ministry of Transport’s Tackling Unsafe Speeds Programme, to be rolled out over the next 10 years, includes lowering the speed surrounding schools to a maximum of 40kmh in urban areas and 60kmh in rural areas.
The ministry will hold workshops on how to implement the changes with local authorities in March and April.
Timaru District Council land transport manager Andrew Dixon said the council was keen to review speed limits but would hold off changing them past schools until after the workshop.
Ministry of Transport mobility and safety manager Brent Johnson said the changes would make for a more ‘‘coordinated and transparent approach’’ and it would take time to ‘‘tailor to the unique environment around each school’’.
‘‘All RCAs [Road Controlling Authorities] will be expected to ensure 40 per cent of schools in their region have safer speed limits in place within three years, while all schools will require safer speed limits in place over 10 years,’’ he said.
Johnston said the 10-year window allowed time to plan, consult on and implement the most appropriate speed management treatments.
Police school community officer Senior Constable Deb Quested said sometimes setting the speed limit around a school was complex. An example being Timaru’s South School which sits on the corner of Queen St, a local road, and Craigie Ave – a state highway.
Authorities have been working together on how best to keep pupils safe when crossing the roads with a road patrol removed from Craigie Ave as drivers were not slowing down. Alternatives were being considered.
Quested estimated 80 per cent of drivers on Craigie Ave were not locals and were unaware three schools bordered the highway or were close by – Roncalli College, Sacred Heart and Timaru South School.
Complicating the Timaru South School issue were two stop signs and a give way on the Craigie Ave-Queens St intersections, she said.
Winchester Rural School principal Tre Sylvawood requested a kea crossing outside the school’s main entrance at the start of 2019, granted by the Timaru District Council at the end of the year, and said it ‘‘makes kids and whanau safer’’.
The crossing only operates before and after school when a duty teacher supervises older trained students using lollipop arms at the crossing area. There are no marks painted on the road only a flashing light warning drivers to reduce their speed.
Sylvawood also wanted the 50kmh limit on the state highway, on the other side of the school to the kea crossing, to be moved further south, but this was denied.
Ideally she would like to see the speed limit reduced further on the state highway to 40kmh.
Geraldine Primary School principal Andrew Leverton said even that speed was fast.
"Even going 40kmh past a school is fast, especially at the start and end of the day.’’
Highfield School principal Stuart Wilcox said he would ‘‘love’’ to see the speed limit reduced.