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Legislation: school patrols, school wardens and school crossing points

Rules related to the operation of school traffic safety teams.

9.1 Excerpt from the Land Transport Rule: Traffic Control Devices 2004

Rule 8.3 School patrols

1 A road controlling authority may, in writing, authorise the board of trustees of a school to appoint persons as members of school patrols at specified school crossing points or pedestrian crossings to assist, direct and supervise children on their way to or from school.

2 When appointing members of school patrols the board of trustees:

a) for a school crossing point, must appoint adults to supervise the school patrol and school crossing point; and

b) for a marked pedestrian crossing, may appoint adults to supervise the school patrol and pedestrian crossing.

3 A road controlling authority may, at any time, by notice in writing, withdraw an authorisation it has given under 1.

4 The Agency may require that a road controlling authority withdraw an authorisation given under 1.

5 The withdrawal of an authorisation under 3 or 4 takes effect when the road controlling authority or the Agency notifies the board of trustees, in writing, of the withdrawal.

6 A member of a school patrol must wear, as appropriate, a raincoat or vest that identifies them clearly and enables them to be visible to approaching drivers.

7 A member of a school patrol must use a `School Patrol’ sign that complies with Schedule 1 mounted on a white or black and white striped pole at least 35mm in diameter and not less than 1.5 m in length.

Functions and duties of school patrols

8 A school patrol must control the approach of the driver of a vehicle to a pedestrian crossing or school crossing point by extending into the roadway, and keeping extended, the ‘School Patrol’ sign, so as to display its wording clearly to the driver and, at the same time, may direct pedestrians to enter the crossing.

9 A school patrol must not extend the ‘School Patrol’ sign into the roadway to stop a vehicle except during a pause in the flow of traffic, having regard to the number of vehicles approaching the crossing.

Rule 8.4 School crossing points

1 A road controlling authority may provide a school crossing point on a road for which a speed limit of 50km/h or less is set.

2 A road controlling authority may provide a school crossing point on a road for which a speed limit of more than 50km/h is set if it has obtained the approval of the Agency and complies with the conditions of the approval.

3 Before establishing a school crossing point, a road controlling authority must obtain the agreement of the board of trustees of each school that is served by the school crossing point.

4 A school crossing point must be placed so that:
a) it, and the school patrol when operating, is visible to a driver approaching the crossing point from any direction;
and
b) the driver’s view of the entire length of the crossing is unobstructed by any permanent growth, construction or phyiscal feature.

5 A road controlling authority must indicate the presence and position of a school crossing point by marking or installing in accordance with the relevant requirements of Schedule 2:
a) a white, reflectorised limit line on each approach; and
b) at each end of the crossing point, a permanent white support post or pole; and
c) when a school patrol is operating:
i) at least one ‘Children’ flag sign installed adjacent to each vehicle limit line oneach approach to the crossing point; and
ii)a ‘School Patrol’ sign at each end of the crossing point; and
d) a ‘Children’ sign, with a ‘School’ supplementary sign, permanently mounted on either side of the road facing approaching traffic.

6 Markings for a school crossing point must be placed, as far as practicable, either at right angles to the middle line of the roadway or so as to provide the most convenient route for pedestrians.

7 All ‘School Patrol’ signs and ‘Children’ flag signs must be removed from a school crossing point when a school patrol is not operating.

Rule 8.8 Other pedestrian facilities

School wardens

1 A board of trustees of a school may appoint a person as a school warden to assist, direct and supervise children at a point at which they may cross the road on their way to and from school.

2 A board of trustees must advise the road controlling authority before establishing a school warden system.

3 A school warden must wear, as appropriate, a raincoat or vest that identifies them clearly and enables them to be visible to approaching drivers.

Crossing places

4 A road controlling authority may provide signs, markings, surface texture or raised platforms or kerb extensions and traffic islands or other techniques to guide a pedestrian to a place at which to cross a roadway.

5 If a road controlling authority installs a device in 4 that does not require a driver to stop their vehicle to allow a pedestrian to cross the roadway, the road controlling authority must ensure that the device conveys a clear and consistent message to road users.

Rule 13.4 Responsibilities of boards of trustees

A person who is a member of a board of trustees must comply with 8.3 and 8.8.

Rule 13.5 Responsibilities of school patrols

A person who is a member of a school patrol must comply with 8.3.

Rule 13.6 Responsibilities of school wardens

A person who is a school warden must comply with 8.8.

9.2 Excerpt from the Land Transport (Road User) Rule

Pedestrian crossings

1. A driver approaching a pedestrian crossing must—

(a) give way to pedestrians, and to riders of wheeled recreational devices or mobility devices,—

(i) on the pedestrian crossing; or

(ii) obviously waiting to cross it and who are not behind a school patrol sign; and

(b) if necessary, slow down and stop the driver’s vehicle for that purpose.

2. A driver approaching a pedestrian crossing must not enter the crossing if the driver’s intended passage is blocked by stationary traffic.

3. For the purposes of this clause, if a pedestrian crossing is interrupted by a raised traffic island, the parts of the crossing that are situated on different sides of that traffic island must be regarded as separate pedestrian crossings.

4. This clause does not apply to a pedestrian crossing that is for the time being controlled by an enforcement officer.

Rule 10.1 Pedestrian crossings

A pedestrian or a rider of a mobility device or wheeled recreational device must not suddenly enter a pedestrian crossing when an approaching vehicle is so close to the pedestrian crossing that the driver of the vehicle is unable to give way to the pedestrian or the driver or rider of the device.

9.3 Health and safety

School traffic safety teams need to comply with the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 and the Vulnerable Children Act 2014.

9.4 For more information

For more information on school traffic safety teams, please contact your school community officer or road controlling authority.

 

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