Wanaka police say they are taking a hard line to drive home a message to speeding motorists ignoring speed limits when passing school buses.
Constable Peter Reed said a recent accident, in which a 9-year-old girl walking to her school bus stop was hit by a motorist, had highlighted the issue.
Since the incident, police had followed school buses around the district and were alarmed by the number of speeding infringement notices which they had issued, Const Reed said.
"We need to get the message out there. You must stay under the 20kmh speed limit when passing a [stationary] school bus," he said.
A couple of serious breaches had resulted in two drivers having their licences suspended for 28 days, as well as their having to go court, Const Reed said.
Police had authority to automatically suspend a licence if a driver was caught passing a stationary school bus at a speed above 50kmh, Const Reed said.
