School renews zebra crossing call after girl hit

8th March 2010

Manaia View School managers have been concerned for years about the lack of a zebra crossing near the school's entrance.

The issue has been raised again after a 6-year-old girl was knocked down by a  car  on Tuesday.

A request to Whangarei District Council two years ago to have a zebra crossing installed was turned down, school principal Leanne Otene said.

The council instead installed a "kea" crossing - operated by a school patrol - and provided a 40km/h flashing sign the school switches on 30 minutes before and after school times.

The school will now lobby for a pedestrian crossing and hopes the neighbouring community, Northland police and the council will support the issue.

"It's not just about the children knowing how and where to cross the road. A zebra crossing would remind motorists to slow down," Ms Otene said.

 The girl was hit on Tuesday after the patrols had left for the day, and the accident occurred 20m from the kea crossing on Murdoch Cres.

Ms Otene said while the circumstances were not directly related to the crossing, there were "accidents waiting to happen" every school day or weekend.

The school entrance is on a bend and a hill, which means any designated crossing  has to be about 50m below the  gate.

Traffic travelling down the hill toward Whangarei was the major problem because of speed, Ms Otene said.

Senior Sergeant Steve Dickson, from Whangarei police traffic division, said the police would support a request for a zebra crossing near Manaia View School. "Our interest is road safety, and near schools is a big part of that."

 WDC communications manager Ann Midson said that,  because of the corner, sight-lines were inadequate for a safe crossing right outside the school gate.

The kea crossing had been installed at the safest position closest to the school.

"We are aware, though, this is an area with a degree of risk."