School traffic safety teams

The School Traffic Safety Team Manual is the guide for New Zealand schools operating school patrols, school wardens or bus wardens.

The manual was revised in October 2016.

School Traffic Safety Team Manual [PDF, 5 MB]

You can also read the manual online via the pages below.

The School Traffic Safety Teams training video

This is the official training video series for students, supervisors and school staff involved in running a School Traffic Safety Team. Videos cover school patrols, school wardens, bus wardens and more. Includes pedestrian crossing video spoken in te reo Māori.

Introduction to the manual

Having a school traffic safety team goes a long way towards helping students stay safe on their journeys to and from school.

Who's responsible for what?

Here are the responsibilities for school leaders and other partners.

School patrols

School patrols help to keep students safe on the road by controlling the flow of vehicles and pedestrians at pedestrian crossings and ‘kea’ crossings (school crossing points).

Going on school patrols

Details of operations when a school patrol operates. Part of the School Traffic Safety Teams Manual.

School wardens

Unlike school patrols, school wardens (sometimes called traffic wardens) don’t step into the road, stop or control traffic.

Bus wardens

If students regularly travel to and from your school by bus, you might like to establish a team of bus wardens.

Training your school traffic safety team

Your police school community officer is responsible for training school patrols and wardens. Here is the process.

Legislation: school patrols, school wardens and school crossing points

Rules related to the operation of school traffic safety teams.

Supporting resources and news

Download support material for the School Traffic Safety Teams Manual, and read related news. Includes history of the school patrol.

Access keys for nzta.govt.nz