Flashing speed limit warning signs intended to reduce the incidence of motorists speeding past parked school buses could be approved for use nationally by April - almost six years after the Ministry of Transport banned them from Oamaru buses.
About 20 flashing warning signs were given to Ritchies Transport after a community fundraising effort more than five years ago, but the ministry asked for the then-unapproved signs to be removed.
However, after calls last week from Oamaru police community constable Senior Constable Bruce Dow and Ritchies Transport for the signs to be reintroduced, the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) this week confirmed a safety trial of the signs began last month.
Trial spokeswoman and NZTA southern region safety programme co-ordinator Lee Wright said the Ashburton trial, to install the flashing signs on buses, would finish in December, and be followed by four months of evaluation.
''This is the only trial being run throughout New Zealand, and if ... found to be a success, these signs will be approved for use throughout New Zealand.
''For the trial to be successful, it will need to show there is improved safety around school buses through an increased awareness of travelling at 20kmh past a stationary school bus and by a reduction in speeds past stationary school buses.''
The trial would be carried out by Transport Engineering Research New Zealand, with funding from the Road Safety Trust, she said, and was supported by police, Ashburton District Council and Rural Women New Zealand. Sen Const Dow said it was ''refreshing'' to see that positive action on the issue, although Oamaru had been ''six years ahead of its time'', when it first put the signs on school buses.
''What happened back then [removal] probably shouldn't have. They are as relevant today as they were back then. I think it's a good idea that they have taken this issue up, but the ball should never have been dropped in Oamaru six years ago.
''Six years ago, that programme should have been introduced nationwide, not six years later.''
