The kids at Pamapuria School, 10 kilometres south of Kaitaia, know all about keeping themselves safe on the road. If there were any gaps they were filled in on Friday by Senior Constable Rowena Jones, who took them through the safety drill, checked their bikes for roadworthiness, made sure their helmets fitted properly and ensured that everyone knew the rules.
It was all part of 'Wheelies Day,' but it wasn't all about bikes. Traffic on State Highway 1, on the school's western boundary, was on everyone's mind too.
The section of highway outside the school is signposted as a school zone, but there is no speed restriction, so most vehicles rip past, quite legally, at 100km/h, or more. And three days earlier a man died when the vehicle he was driving clipped another car and rolled up to eight times.
That accident prompted a strong response from the children, who made posters with messages such as Kids Count 2, 100km/h is way too fast, Slow down children @ work, Slow down or boom bang crash, and Now U C me now U don't.
They have also written to anyone who they think might support their plea for a speed restriction, including Te Tai Tokerau MP Hone Harawira, Mayor John Carter, the NZ Transport Agency, the police and the Prime Minister.
