Electronic speed signs are being switched on outside six schools along state highways in Northland and north Auckland as part of a nationwide push to make roads safer for children during busy drop-off and pick-up times.
The signs, installed under NZTA’s school speed limit programme, will display a variable speed limit during peak school traffic times to slow traffic as it passes the school.
“Setting safe speed limits around schools improves safety for all tamariki and whānau as they come in and out of school,” NZTA regional manager of maintenance and operations Jacqui Hori-Hoult said.
Under new rules that came into force last October, all schools with gates directly onto state highways must have variable speed limits of 60km/h or lower by July 2026.
When the signs are flashing, the lower limit applies and was enforceable, and when they’re off, the normal speed limit remains in place.
“The school and NZTA may also turn the signs on for activities such as late starts, or early finish times, or school functions, when there is similar risk to tamariki,” Hori-Hoult said.
The next group of schools in Northland and north Auckland go live from today, including Ngātaki School on State Highway 1, which will drop to 30km/h during peak times, and Oruaiti School on State Highway 10, which will also have a 30km/h limit when the signs are on.
Other schools such as Pāmapūria and Umawera will have 60km/h limits during school travel periods.
International best practice shows 30km/h is the safest speed where children are present. The risk of death or serious injury doubles between 30km/h and 40km/h, and doubles again at 50km/h.
The programme began outside seven Coromandel Peninsula schools in August and would eventually cover around 200 schools nationwide by mid-2026.
