The AA is reminding all drivers to be extra careful as schools start for 2015.

Many primary schools will be starting on Monday, so the roads will be busy in the mornings and afternoons with schoolkids and parents.

“Last year there were more than 350 school-aged children hurt on our roads and most of the crashes happen in the afternoon when school has finished or in the morning before it starts,” says AA spokesperson Dylan Thomsen.

“Hurting a child on the roads would be anyone’s worst nightmare. Drivers need to remind themselves to be extra cautious as there will be a lot of schoolkids around who can do unpredictable things.

“A lot of schools now have reduced speed limits around them at the start and end of the school days, so drivers need to be aware of these and slow down. With rain forecast next week after a long dry spell, the roads could also be slippery and require more cautious driving.”

Parents can do some simple things to make their kids safer as well.

Research shows the most effective thing that can be done to reduce accidents around schools is to eliminate the need for children to cross the road.

Dropping children off and picking them up on the same side of the road as their school, even if it means stopping further away from the gates, will be safer.

With young children, parents should also cross the road with them or make sure they use a school patrol crossing.

For more information contact:

Dylan Thomsen
Senior Communications Adviser
New Zealand Automobile Association
T. 04 931 9991
M. 027 703 9935
E. dthomsen@aa.co.nz 

The New Zealand Automobile Association is an incorporated society with more than one million members. It represents the interests of road users who collectively pay more than $2 billion in taxes each year through fuels excise, road user charges and GST.