As part of a national "back to school" campaign, Central Otago police are focusing on drivers who speed past stationary school buses. Motorists have to slow to 20kmh going past a stopped school bus.
The campaign focus, particularly around school bus stops on the open road, has been welcomed by parents of school children and Central Motorways, the company which provides nearly all school bus services in Central Otago.
"The law's not that well-known when it comes to driving at 20kmh past a stationary bus and our bus drivers say that while people slow down a bit, it's not enough," Central Motorways general manager Michael Harrison said.
"On the open road, drivers [going past a school bus] slow from say, 100kmh to 80kmh, and that's not good enough."
The company had about 30 school buses on the road in Central Otago and Wanaka and its drivers said the biggest issues were with motorists on the open highway, speeding past buses stopped to pick up or drop off children, Mr Harrison said.
One of the "worst places" was on State Highway 85, at Springvale, near Alexandra.
Local Gary Kelliher agreed it was a "particularly busy" stretch of rural highway, which was used by stock trucks, milk tankers and logging trucks.
He was making sure daughters Emma (8) and Shannon (6) caught the bus safely there yesterday morning.
"It's too dangerous a road to leave them here, waiting for a bus, without an adult."
Mr Kelliher backed the police campaign and said it was important for traffic to slow to the legal limit around stopped school buses.
"You can see how simple it would be for an accident to happen, around where the bus stops."
Central Otago police area commander, Senior Sergeant Ian Kerrisk said it was pleasing only one infringement notice was issued yesterday but motorists should be aware of the campaign.
If a child "darted out suddenly" from a stationary school bus, motorists driving at 20kmh would have every chance of stopping or swerving to avoid the child.
