Teachers move to ban child traffic patrols

Press, 10 May 1979, Page 1

Teachers move to ban child traffic patrols

PA Wellington Children will no longer control traffic on pedestrian crossings near schools if the Educational Institute gets its way. The institute decided at its annual meeting in Wellington yesterday that primary school children should no longer be used on pedestrian crossings as road-traffic controllers. The previous policy was that in areas afflicted by particular traffic problems, school traffic patrols could be replaced by some form of adult supervision provided by the Department of Education or “more properly by the traffic authorities.” The new move came after speakers told the

conference that the patrols were either ignored or intimidated by motorists, and that the Ministry of Transport made ridiculous demands on patrol members when complaints were made and then failed to follow up the complaints. Mr J. O’Reilly, of Whangarei, said that attempts had been made to use the old policy but “we were constantly told the children could not be replaced.” A patrol had been replaced by traffic lights in one case, but that was only after a child had been killed. Many people completely disregarded the patrols or drove quickly towards them, hoping that the stop

signs would be withdrawn, Mr O’Reilly said. Difficulties had arisen in 1968 when the old policy was adopted, and there were more now, he said. Children could no longer do the job, and should be replaced by adults. Mr R. Goldstone, of Papakura, said that the policy had been on the books for 11 years. It was now “time to force the hand.” A school was lucky if it had enough parents able and willing to work a roster system. “Children are under enough pressure without asking them to go out and do an adult’s job,” he said. Mrs H. Bury, of Wellington, said that the senior traffic officer in Wellington had said the child-

ren need supply only the registration number of an offending vehicle, its direction, and the time and date of an offence. Dozens of complaints had been made, but the Traffic Department always came back to ask ridiculous questions about the driver and passengers of vehicles.

Mrs G. Bennett, of Rotorua. said that one child had been killed there and within two weeks of that incident two others suffered serious injuries. The solution had been to put two girls doing relief work at the school on patrol duties.

“I am not sure it is legal, but it is safer,” she said.