Motorists speeding past stopped school buses better beware - there could be more than Waitaki Valley children on board.
Kurow Constable Craig Bennett could be in among the pupils with a laser gun measuring your speed and, if it is more than the 20kmh limit, you could face fines or, worse, loss of your licence.
The limit applies to both lanes, not just the one closest to the bus.
So far, 19 motorists have been detected, the highest speed 108kmh, 88kmh above the limit past a stationary school bus. Measures have ranged from written warnings to a charge of dangerous driving, which carries a minimum six months disqualification, maximum fine of $4500 and maximum three months' jail.
Motorists 40kmh or more above the 20kmh restriction lose their licences for 28 days.
Const Bennett uses a patrol car on some occasions, but can also travel in the bus on its route when it picks up or drops off pupils, using the laser gun through the windows, recording the speed, registration number and make, if he has time. That is followed up with a letter to the vehicle's owner, asking the name of the driver.
A judgement based on speed, attempt to slow, visibility and circumstances is made to determine whether it should be a written warning, infringement fine or worse.
The local campaign with Waitaki and Hakataramea school buses going to Waitaki Valley School started late last year, particularly along State Highways 82 and 83, but has kicked up a notch since school started this year. About 90% of the school's pupils travel by bus.
Const Bennett emphasised it was more about educating people than issuing fines. That had already been illustrated by no local people being caught after he had warned about the campaign in newsletter the Kurow Bugle.
The campaign was prompted by complaints from school bus drivers about motorists ignoring the 20kmh speed limit when a school bus has stopped, but reinforced by Const Bennett's own experience.
''We were in our private car, driven by my wife, and slowed down to 20kmh for a stopped school bus. A car passed between us and the school bus, doing about 110kmh.''
Kurow's only police officer, Const Craig is a qualified serious crash investigator and analyst and gets called to crashes. The hardest part is door-knocking to tell a family if someone is killed.
''I don't want to to be the person who does that if a child gets killed,'' he said.
