The officer in charge of the Back to School campaign says motorists need to set a good example for future drivers outside school zones.

Western Bay of Plenty road policing manager, Senior Sergeant Ian Campion, says schools are unpredictable driving zones and motorists should always be aware.

'Where you have children around schools, you have unpredictability. Children are pretty unpredictable, they get easily distracted. So people need to be extremely aware of that.

'Also remember there will be congestion around schools as well as parents and caregivers drop children off and pick them up.”

The programme is run every week children return after school holidays, and so far Ian says there have been no tickets issued.

'People caught breaking the law will be issued with infringement notices but we would rather not do that. To be fair the cast majority of drivers do take care around schools and it's just the odd few who need to concentrate and make sure they get it right.”

Ian says people need to be aware that there are various speed limits around schools.
'Some of the urban schools have the 40km/h speed zones, which are extremely visible because they are LED speed restriction signs.

'There are various others. There are some with 50km/h and some that are 80km/h for Pyes Pa School for example and 100km/h for the Kaimai School.”

Motorists are also being advised to look out for school patrols on pedestrian crossings.
Ian asks people to make sure they give way when children put the signs out to let other students cross the road.

'It's also about reducing speeds, irrespective of what the speed limit is. If there is a potential hazard then we need adjust speeds accordingly.”

Parking is also a big issue around schools, says Ian, and he urges those parents and caregivers dropping and picking children up to make sure they park legally.

'Don't increase the risk to those children attending schools. If it means you have to walk 100metres then so be it. We should be doing that, particularly if it means the children are safer.

'No double parking, no parking on broken yellow lines and no parking on grass berms. People need to be sensible and considerate.”

Ian says setting the standard is what is important.

'Our children will be future drivers too.”