Speedsters look out!

Seven schools on high priority list for measures to slow traffic.

Students of Parawai and St Francis Schools in Thames will benefit from new structures funded by Thames-Coromandel District Council and aimed at slowing traffic to reduce the risk of accidents.

The schools were identified as the top priority out of all schools on Council-owned roads following an investigation looking at traffic volume, site congestion, motorist awareness of school sites and crash history.

TCDC Roading Manager Matt Busch says the structures - which help raise motorists’ awareness that a school is nearby and alert them to reduce their speed – will be built at the rate of two per year depending on budget.

Only schools on TCDC roads were included in the investigation because the New Zealand Transport Agency is responsible for slowing traffic on the State Highway and only NZTA can decide what structures are allowed on state highways.

Of the 15 schools in the investigation, seven were found to be a high priority for traffic slowing structures. The other eight were deemed a low priority and will be looked at once the high priority sites are complete.

The seven high priority sites are:
1. Parawai School
2. St Francis School
3. Thames South School
4. Thames High School
5. Coromandel Area School
6. Colville School
7. Mercury Bay Area School

The structures this year for St Francis and Parawai schools are part of a contract that includes raising two existing pedestrian crossings on Pollen Street and a kea crossing for Parawai School children, to be built on Lowe Avenue. Kea crossings feature kerb extensions from the existing kerb and a lollipop sign that is swung out to stop traffic and allow kids to cross the road safely at the start and end of school.