About 450 Western Bay of Plenty school students are parading in central Tauranga as to celebrate the job the students have done throughout the year as traffic wardens.

Road patrollers, bus monitors and travel smart school students took the time out to walk around the CDB this morning on the ‘Orange Day Parade'.

Students paraded down The Strand to be recognised for their commitment to road safety.

Travel Safe programme leader Karen Smith says the students have worked hard this year to ensure their fellow classmates remain safe when travelling to and from school.

The parade is followed by a swim at Baywave and a sausage sizzle.

The theme of this year's road safety programme was to identify the road issues around the school and create a message to show the community what theses issues are.

Police Constable Emma Buxton says the parade has gone well.

'There was a massive turn out, with lots of supporters coming out shops to see the parade.

'Students are vital to the safety of fellow school students getting to and from school.”
She says they have to patrol in all weather conditions, as well as arriving early and being the last ones to leave.

SunLive photographer Tracy Hardy was at The Strand to capture these moments during the parade.