Motorists will be required to slow down along State Highway 26 near Hamilton's Berkley Normal Middle School from Tuesday 16 June, when a new school speed zone gets activated on Hamilton's Morrinsville Road.
Motorists will be required to slow down along State Highway 26 near Hamilton’s Berkley Normal Middle School from Tuesday 16 June, when a new school speed zone gets activated on Hamilton’s Morrinsville Road.
The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has installed electronic 40km/h speed limit signs on either side of the Berkley Avenue intersection with Morrinsville Road, which will operate at the beginning and end of each school day.
NZTA Regional Director, Harry Wilson says NZTA has worked with Hamilton City Council and the NZ Police to make the highway safer for school students walking to and from school.
Mr Wilson says, “Research has shown that an unprotected pedestrian hit by a vehicle travelling at 40 km/h or below is much more likely to survive than they would be if the vehicle was travelling at a speed above 40 km/h. Along with reducing the traffic speed, the new speed zone will alert motorists to look out for children during the critical times when they are likely to be crossing the road so the chances of a pedestrian getting hit will be much less likely.”
Berkley Normal Middle School Principal John Crone says the installation of the speed zone is strongly supported by the school staff and parents, who view it as an important tool for keeping their students and children safe.
The new speed zone will be in operation each school morning from 8am to 8.35am and each school afternoon from 3.10pm to 3.30pm. The school also has the option of activating the speed zone for 10 minutes either side of any other time when 50 or more children have to cross or be near the highway.
Motorists are asked to watch the speed zone signs and to be prepared to slow down when the electronic signs are operating.
Sergeant Phil Ruddell of the Waikato Police Strategic Traffic Unit says police will be actively enforcing the new speed zone limit from next Tuesday, as they do with all other schools.
“The police have no tolerance for motorists who speed near schools and endanger lives of children, and we will not hesitate to ticket anyone going faster than the speed limit.”
For more information please contact:
Julie Hannam
Regional Communications Advisor
NZ Transport Agency
T 64 07 958 7238
M 64 027 294 2649
julie.hannam@nzta.govt.nz
