Bus Trial Goes Nationwide

The Timaru District Council’s trial to reduce speed around school buses has been well received and is going nationwide.

The council trialled flashing signs on the front and back of buses alerting drivers that children were hopping on and off the bus.

Land Transport New Zealand adopted the initiative and hoped that signs might be fitted to all buses in New Zealand.

The council’s land transport manager Andrew Dixon said bus drivers had noticed a significant reduction in speed from passing drivers.

The signs were trialled on the Pleasant Point to Timaru and Temuka to Timaru bus routes.

Mr Dixon said the signs were introduced to complement flashing signs placed outside of schools.

Drivers seemed to take more notice of the flashing lights on the bus and slow down accordingly. The speed limit to pass a school bus is 20km.

Mr Dixon was pleased the initiative was going nationwide.

“It’s nice to be the first.”

However, more signs would only be introduced if it was in the council budget.

n Herald Staff

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