A motorist has lost his car for 28 days after being caught speeding past Pyes Pa School on Thursday morning – as the school welcomed a new speed-reducing trial.

The two-year Variable Speed Signs trial started began recently and has been officially marked at Pyes Pa School this week.

NZ Transport Agency highways manager Brett Gliddon, Pyes Pa School principal Michelle Thurlow, and Western Bay of Plenty Police highway patrol manager Sergeant Mike Owen, outside Pyes Pa School.

It sees the speed limit outside Pyes Pa School reduced from 80 km/h to 40 km/h during school start and end times.

Western Bay's Pahoia and Kaimai schools are also involved in the trial – with speeds outside of the schools dropping from 100 km/h to 70 km/h.

The schools were chosen because they are located in high-risk traffic areas.

Western Bay of Plenty District traffic officers were outside Pyes Pa School on Thursday morning monitoring people's speeds when one motorist drove past the school at 70 km/h and was promptly pulled over by police.

'The driver lost his vehicle for 28 days as he was unlicensed and unregistered as well as speeding,” says Western Bay of Plenty Police highway patrol manager Sergeant Mike Owen. 'Not only did we get the car off the road, but other motorists saw us talking to the driver at the time when the signs were on.”

Mike says the signs are a great idea and police will be randomly patrolling around the schools to make sure people are complying with the speed rules.

When the variable speed limit signs are turned on, during drop-off and pick-up school times, motorists must slow their speed to the speed shown in the sign.

The variable speed signs are different to the light-up school zone signs that were formerly to be used, as the new signs will flash up a new speed for the road at drop-off times in the morning and pick-up times after school.

Variable signs are more common at urban area schools but Pyes Pa School principal Michelle Thurlow is pleased they are finally being used around rural schools.

'Traffic outside our school is a real issue and it is a big deal to have the electronic signs in place.”

The decision to place the signs in rural areas came out of concern and consultation with the community and the NZ Transport Agency and police, says Michelle.

'The trial was officially marked at our school with a school assembly and it was great to get the children involved, so they can see what is being done to keep them safe.

'It's great for them to see the people who are involved behind the scenes.”

NZ Transport Agency highways manager Brett Gliddon says the three schools in the WBOP – Pyes Pa, Pahoia and Kaimai School – are the latest out of 23 schools to be involved in the trial.

'The variable speed signs are already used around urban schools. The positive feedback from schools already involved in the trial helped us make the decision to move forward with schools in the WBOP.”