Road safety for foreign students

Incidents such as a German student being hit by a bus in Auckland because she looked the wrong way crossing the road have prompted the inclusion of road safety in English language lessons.

Developed by Land Transport New Zealand, the On the Road kit will be distributed to English language schools in a bid to improve the safety of foreign students on the roads.

University of Auckland English Language Academy marketing manager Farnaaz Mohammed said the case of one German student at the academy in Auckland showed the need for additional road education.

"During her first week here she saw her bus on the other side of the road, completely forgot what she had been told, looked only to the left and stepped straight in front of a bus.

"She was seriously injured and flown home to Germany for treatment."

It was critical international students understood New Zealand road rules, Ms Mohammed said.

The new programme was the brainchild of English language teacher Etain McDonnell, who recognised the number of serious accidents involving overseas students.

The kit features video skits, cards, tapes of television advertisements and a board game, and will be available free to English language schools nationwide.

- NZPA