The Government announced yesterday it was reducing speed limits to a maximum of 40kmh around urban schools and 60kmh around rural schools.
Kaikorai Valley College is one of the first schools in Otago to have electronic variable speed limit signs outside its gates, changing the speed limit from 50kmh to 40kmh during drop-off and pick-up times.
While principal Rick Geerlofs was pleased about the initiative, he had reservations about its effectiveness.
Associate Transport Minister Julie Anne Genter said many parents would like their children to get to school independently, but were concerned about fast moving traffic near their school.
"Our kids should have the freedom to walk and cycle to school, and feel safe doing so.
"Safer speeds around schools is proven to make streets safer, more attractive and more accessible for children to walk and cycle."
As well as electronic variable speed limit signs, speed changes would be supported by street improvements like wider footpaths and raised pedestrian crossings in busy urban areas.
Mr Geerlofs said any initiative that slowed traffic along the boundaries of schools was "a positive".
"We’ve had a situation here, where a pupil was struck by a vehicle last year and it’s a constant worry for us on such a major road.
"I’m not altogether convinced, however, that those signs are slowing the traffic down as much as we would like.
"Sometimes they are simply not seen. I would like to see more patrolling of those speed initiatives."
He believed other initiatives, such as the narrowing of the road near pedestrian crossings and speed bumps, would help.
"I’ve seen speed bumps around other schools and I would imagine that those initiatives are having more of an impact than speed signs necessarily will be, because you have to slow down for those speed bumps."
However, he believed they would be difficult to implement on Kaikorai Valley Rd because it was such a busy arterial route, Mr Geerlofs said.
Ms Genter said the traffic speed limit changes around school areas would be implemented progressively, as central government worked with the relevant councils over the coming decade.
The safety improvements around schools was part of a broader programme to change unsafe speeds across the country.
Changes include a new "no surprises" approach to safety cameras that will introduce warning signs so drivers know to travel slowly through high-risk, safety camera areas; transferring the ownership and operation of safety cameras from NZ Police to the NZ Transport Agency; rolling out additional cameras on high-risk roads; and streamlining the process for communities and local authorities to determine the appropriate speed limits for their regions.
