KEY POINTS:
A combined police and Land Transport New Zealand effort to curb speeding around schools has the backing of Police and Transport Minister Annette King.
Ms King today visited a Wellington school with Transport Safety Minister Harry Duynhoven to endorse the campaign which will see motorists who exceed the speed limit by more than 4km/h ticketed.
As children went back to school today, police increased enforcement within 250m of the boundaries of schools and pre-schools.
An LTNZ advertising campaign was launched last month to remind motorists to be careful around schools.
Ms King said the dangers to children from speeding drivers was illustrated by the fact that in the past five years more than 1200 child pedestrians have been killed or injured during school terms.
Because children were small and often easily distracted and unpredictable, drivers had to be more than usually careful when driving near schools, she said.
"The slower they drive, the more chance they have of reacting safely if something unexpected happens."
The programme extends the "Speed Kills Kids" campaign introduced last year.
LTNZ spokesman Andy Knackstedt said the gist of this year's campaign was there was simply no excuse for speeding around schools.
A child struck by a vehicle travelling at 60km/h had only a 15 per cent chance of survival, while a child struck by a vehicle travelling at 50km/h had a 55 per cent chance of survival.
- NZPA
