All go for ‘smart crossing’ in Kaikorai Valley

Installation of a new ‘‘smart’’ pedestrian crossing with flashing lights outside Kaikorai Valley College was completed yesterday.

‘‘This is one of the first smart crossings of its type to be introduced in New Zealand,’’ Dunedin City Council transport engineering and road safety team leader Hjarne Poulsen said.

‘‘Overseas studies show drivers are significantly more aware of smart crossings,’’ he said.

The improvements would be monitored to see how well they worked, Mr Poulsen added.

As well as that $40,000 upgrade, safety improvements involving ‘‘dragons teeth’’ were also being made to another pedestrian crossing, at Bay View Rd, outside King’s and Queen’s High Schools.

The new road safety measures were being introduced outside the three Dunedin schools to make drivers more aware they were approaching pedestrian crossings, and needed to slow down, Mr Poulsen said.

The Kaikorai Valley Rd crossing had several features to make it more visible, including illuminated signage on each side of the road and flashing LED lights in the roadway, which were activated as pedestrians approached to cross.