School speed limits. What's your point of view?

[Lissa]

If you are approaching a school or school bus you should be slowing down anyway especially during the peak times of 8.30am - 9am and 3pm to about 3.30pm. Kids can cross roads, and aren't always paying attention or using the appropriate crossings.

As for school buses dropping off/picking up kids from the main road, there should be signs posted alerting to the fact that there could be a school bus stopped ahead, so everyone should be at least aware they may have to slow down.

Maybe the open road speed should be brought down to 70km on school bus routes? If it means that it is easier to slow down to 20km when passing one? Dont know, all I know is you can teach your child road rules and safety but sometimes they lack the decision making and make rash choices which can result in them running across a road in front of a vehicle. I know my children have done this at least once but were just lucky no vehicles were on the road, but once is too much they all got a good telling off

[FROSTY:Me]

Ya know wouldn't it be a wonderfull world if all we had to say was "Use Common Sense"

As a dad of a kid or two I can clearly see both sides of the road safety issues here.

[NighthawkNZ:Me]

It is sometimes (as a stranger to an area) difficult to define just what speed you are limited to!

Surrounding traffic is often "no" indication and it's a long time between notices in some places.

Does any one else find this a problem or am I just getting a bit old and doddery?

I many times forget there is a school and or never knew it was there... and yes worse if I don't live in the area...

[Beemer]

Maybe the open road speed should be brought down to 70km on school bus routes? If it means that it is easier to slow down to 20km when passing one? Dont know, all I know is you can teach your child road rules and safety but sometimes they lack the decision making and make rash choices which can result in them running across a road in front of a vehicle. I know my children have done this at least once but were just lucky no vehicles were on the road, but once is too much they all got a good telling off

Unfortunately I can't see that working - in some case it would mean huge distances being set at 70kph - like between Shannon and Palmerston North, and a lot of other back country areas. I like the idea of warning signs and driver education - I wouldn't have a problem slowing to 20kph if EVERYONE knew you were meant to do so, if there were warning signs telling you that this was a school bus area and whenever a school bus was stopped to pick up or drop off children you had to slow to that speed in both directions, etc.

As I headed home this afternoon I came around a corner just as the school bus that had stopped across the side road to drop off a group of teenagers pulled out without indicating. The oncoming traffic I'd passed before reaching the bus had not slowed down at all that I could see, and as I'd come around a blindish corner (a hedge along the side of the road so visibility isn't great) and the bus was already pulling out, neither had I. What is the rule in this instance? The bus was pulling out but the kids were still standing there and it looked like some were waiting to cross the road. I must confess I wasn't impressed to have the driver pull out without indicating as he was doing about 10kph when I spotted him and I was lucky the vehicles behind me had only just entered a 100kph zone when this happened or I would most likely have been rear-ended by one of them.

[Ixion]

No, I would not, if only the drunk were involved. The drunk makes his own decisions. He must live with the consequences.

*Coughs* Believes I live in the world of daily and real consequences, a drunk drivers decision - or lack of, have caused mine and other families. I'm sure you didn't mean that innocents are never involved.

And how, pray tell, do you ascertain that only the drunk will be involved? ....never mind.

Sigh. Google grammar pluperfect subjunctive form . I knew this would be the result once Latin was no longer compulsory in schools.

[DougB]

I drove a school bus every school day for twenty seven years. The only accidents in that time were when two responsible people observing the 20k limit were rear ended.

Being a teacher I was able to severely discipline any of my passengers who did not take the proper precautions before crossing the road.

[gatch]

I think maybe that too many lazy kids get dropped at school in the car by lazy parents on the way to work. For most school is within 20-30 minutes walking yeah ?

Take the time to educate the little cunts and make em walk, I did, until I got a push bike. I never had any trouble until at college I got a motorbike and some asshole picking up his son decided it would be a good idea to turn in front of me.. Go figure..

Less cars, less statistics..

Also something people could do is drive to work a different way so you aren't passing schools/buses. Probably not practicle for some (motorways/school up the street etc) it might take a minute or 2 extra, could even save you time cause you don't have to wait for all the lazy parents who are queued up..

No I don't have kids, but everyone else in my family does, so I know the drill.

Just my thoughts.

[Naki Rat]

Having just spent 3 weeks on holiday driving 4,500km through Victoria, NSW & Queensland I was surprised at how 'disciplined' the local drivers were in comparison to NZ drivers. It was unusual to see anybody exceeding the posted speed limit by more than 5-10 kmh, despite posted limits changing confusingly often and with no apparent reason in many cases. Driving habits might have something to do with armed cops and illegal radar detectors.

And to further confuse the issue 40 or 60 kmh limits exist near any school from 8.00 - 9.30 am and 2.30 - 4.30 pm and these limits are generally adhered to. Similar limits are posted on school buses which have signage, and flashing lights when picking up or dropping off kids.

Not a big deal to slow down near schools for the alert driver and certainly less draconian than the pop out stop signs and flashing lights fitted on school buses in North America which stop traffic in both directions when buses are picking up/dropping off kids.


So what makes New Zealand drivers such cowboys ? Are we just enjoying freedoms that will ultimately disappear as the liability industry invades our lives as is happening in Australia, and has long ago happened in North America, and compulsory safety replaces good old common sense ? Or are we just generally piss-poor drivers?

[Genestho]

O Ixion, quite aside from the content.
I ask for your mercifull forgiveness in the travesty of the abuse and massacre of the grammatically incorrect written word!

Gatch, I agree.
I used to walk to school, in the snow and bare feet! (Now I'm being silly! Quoting what the elders used to say!)

That's a mighty fine idea suggesting kids walk to school like we used to, in a surburban area, but rurally - I'd assume mobs of littlies on the sides of roads, could cause sphincter inducing collapse for motorists.

Also I'm not sure about parents being lazy, with the wants and needs, both parents requiring to work...
Technology supposedly making life easier yet, speeding the pace on our demanding lives.
Some parents just don't have time for a walk 40 mins each way.

The way I recall it, back in the 70's the highlights of a womans day was to see kids off, do gardening, housework and natter with neighbours.
Flick through TV channels 1 or 2 (Maybe that bit was the '80s).
Life is a bit more abundant for parents these days.
I'm not making excuses, just chalking up the difference in times.
Personally if my kids walked, I'd have to walk with them for a long time to come.

Maybe if possible - avoid rural bus routes that are littered with blind corners?
Seems a bit simplistic though. Not everyone can do that.

Might it be overzealous to suggest lower open road speed limits in rural areas on rural bus routes? (eek)

Naki Rat, I lived in Queensland for a while, and I rarely saw speeding over 5 km's, also I noted if I needed to get into a line of traffic, there was a gap left for me to do so, without drama.
I recon you hit the nail on both heads Naki Rat

[oldrider]

I drove a school bus every school day for twenty seven years. The only accidents in that time were when two responsible people observing the 20k limit were rear ended.

Being a teacher I was able to severely discipline any of my passengers who did not take the proper precautions before crossing the road.

(1) One of my greatest concerns while riding my bike in urban areas!

(2) Interesting comment there Doug, how did that differ or relate to todays conditions?

Serious question, seeking serious reply. (in other words I am genuinely interested in your reply)

[Beemer]

Having just spent 3 weeks on holiday driving 4,500km through Victoria, NSW & Queensland I was surprised at how 'disciplined' the local drivers were in comparison to NZ drivers. It was unusual to see anybody exceeding the posted speed limit by more than 5-10 kmh, despite posted limits changing confusingly often and with no apparent reason in many cases. Driving habits might have something to do with armed cops and illegal radar detectors.

We noticed that when on our two trips to Australia too - get within 20m of a pedestrian crossing and the traffic stops in both directions! We did find most drivers very courteous and we rarely heard anyone toot either. If you were waiting to enter the flow of traffic from a side road or parking area, you only had to wait for a few seconds before someone stopped to let you in. I wonder why the majority of NZ drivers ARE so aggressive? You'd think with fewer cars and less clogged roads we'd be a bit calmer!

My husband was heading home the other night when a guy towing a trailer pulled straight out of a side road and crossed in front of him, causing him to brake. When he tooted the immediate response was a raised finger from the other driver. Whatever happened to the "sorry" wave that people used to give when they knew they were in the wrong? Every time I've had someone do a U-turn in front of me, pull out without indicating, fail to give way, etc and I flash my lights or toot, I get abused as if I am in the wrong.

[Genestho]

When he tooted the immediate response was a raised finger from the other driver. Whatever happened to the "sorry" wave that people used to give when they knew they were in the wrong? Every time I've had someone do a U-turn in front of me, pull out without indicating, fail to give way, etc and I flash my lights or toot, I get abused as if I am in the wrong.

That my friend, is called called "NZ's Defensive Driving School"....a school too many motorists, belong to here.

[alanzs]

If I had a dollar for everytime I see a car speeding through the school area I would be rich. I have seen cars go around the "lollipop" poles because they didn't want to wait. They almost mowed over a couple of kids.

NZ has no monopoly on shitty driving, but around a school is different.

[AD345]

Sigh. Google grammar pluperfect subjunctive form . I knew this would be the result once Latin was no longer compulsory in schools.