"Someone is going to end up getting killed."
Mr Callander, of Wakari, said the amount of dangerous driving around schools in Maori Hill was a long-standing problem.
People were regularly double and triple parking, parking over residents’ driveways, and parking on corners, which made it impossible for other drivers to see what traffic was coming.
He had also witnessed many drivers "obliviously" rocketing around corners and through pedestrian crossings, and generally driving too fast.
But Mr Callander said his frustration escalated when one of his sons was nearly hit by a car while being dropped off at school, in Balmacewen Rd, last week.
"My wife rang up and said one of our boys just about got run over right in front of her," Mr Callander said.
Someone had driven straight through the pedestrian crossing, despite children being on it and a crossing attendant being present.
It sparked a passionate plea from Mr Callander.
"Someone is going to end up getting killed.
"Wherever it is that you are so desperate to be on a given morning, I’m prepared to go out on a limb and posit that getting there a couple of minutes early, might not be worth the cost of a child’s life," he said.
"I can’t speak from experience, but I’m told that kind of thing can weigh on a person," Mr Callander said.
Mr Callander hoped that safety work would be done in the area, but his most immediate concern was about people driving cars taking personal responsibility.
"You are driving a vehicle and there are little kids around.
"It’s not rocket science — just slow down."
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Yeah, good luck with that. You do realise that most of the appalling driving behaviour is from other parents. Every morning when I leave the house I either have someone parking over my driveway, or the driveway next door which makes it dangerous as I can't see clearly to pull out. Or they stop and pull over on the no-parking areas right before the crossing near the school on Oban St (the majority of these drivers then turn left onto Highgate so there is no reason why they couldn't use the drop off zone outside Columba, which is rarely ever full as everyone is busily parking over driveways in Oban St instead).
It's a pity that the DCC can't hire part time parking wardens to patrol the streets around schools - they'd pay for their own salaries in no time!
Come on it is not rocket science yet those in positions think it is. Look how Australia run there School zones between, 7am to 9am and 2pm to 4 pm is 40 km down from 60 km 5 days a week all run by a centralised electronic system sign posted with flashing lights, that isn't activated during school holidays or public holidays. any area for crossing the road in the school zone is controlled during those times by employed staff. and police monitor the area if you are caught speeding the fines are
Less than 13km/h over the gazetted speed limit = $168 infringement fine and one demerit point;
At least 13km/h but not more than 20km/h over the gazetted speed limit = $252 infringement fine and three demerit points;
More than 20km/h but not more than 30km/h over the gazetted speed limit = $420 infringement fine and four demerit points;
More than 30km/h but not more than 40km/h over the gazetted speed limit = $588 infringement fine and six demerit points; and
More than 40km/h over the gazetted speed limit = $1,177 infringement fine and eight demerit points.
Not hard is it? NZTA and the DCC are yet again pathetic Traffic monitoring would create jobs for those who need one.
Would it hurt the parents to teach their little darlings not to run headlong out from the school gates and between parked vehicles, look where they are going instead of eyes glued to screens, use the crossings as they were intended?, that way they won't be "nearly hit by a car".
You don't understand child development in regard to spatial perception.
'Lessons' are forgotten in panic. You're the adult. Take responsibility.
nivaman very true, we were not allowed to cross the road near the school unless it was at a crossing, Teachers would make us walk 100 metres in the wrong direction to home to use the patrolled crossing and walk back on the other side of the road to get home. It should be Parents enforced by teachers. - I recall the teachers taking us for lessons crossing the road with the school patrol, and even a MOT officer would turn up, from memory teachers would monitor the crossing after school with help from the parents at times. That was in the mid 70's to 80's but from memory it was stopped because they found out the patrol that stopped traffic with the stop lollipops at the crossing was illegal.