Motorists speeding past stationary school buses in Arrowtown have police concerned for the safety of children in the town.
Police caught five motorists yesterday morning, during a short, sharp operation which was launched following complaints from members of the public about drivers ignoring road rules, including the 20kmh limit when passing a stationary bus.
Constable Hugh O'Reilly, of Queenstown, said the five motorists caught were stopped in just 10 minutes from 7.45am, and were travelling at speeds between 50kmh and 61kmh past the stationary bus on Hartford St, Arrowtown.
A sixth motorist was clocked doing 60kmh past the stationary bus, but police failed to stop the vehicle, he said. The legal speed limit for passing a stationary school bus is 20kmh.
Motorists passing at 50kmh faced a $300 infringement notice, while those passing at 70kmh faced an immediate 28-day roadside suspension of their licence.
‘‘It's a pretty expensive pastime for people. People might whinge about the usual excuses, but when it's kids loading up on school buses there's no . . . excuse, is there?'' Const O'Reilly said.
Most drivers caught, who were all believed to be local residents, were driving at a ‘‘normal speed'' around Arrowtown, but were failing to remember to slow down when passing the school bus, Const O'Reilly said.
Only one of those caught was breaking the town's 50kmh speed limit.
