School traffic safety team manual

Training manual to assist School Traffic Safety Teams maintain their outstanding safety record.

Print version: School traffic safety team manual (PDF, 644 KB, 37 pages)

Foreword

Foreword from Land Transport NZ

School patrols have been acknowledged in New Zealand legislation since 1944. The practice of relying on schools to look after students travelling to and from school is unique to New Zealand and one we should be rightly proud of.

School Traffic Safety Teams (school patrols, traffic wardens and bus wardens) play a crucial road safety role for children every day.

Their excellent safety record stands testament to the commitment not only of the students and supervisors involved, but also to the schools, communities and enforcement agencies that have trained and supported them over the years.

This training manual will assist School Traffic Safety Teams in maintaining their outstanding safety record.

Michael Cummins
Manager Education, Safety

Foreword from the New Zealand Police

The introduction of the school patrol system in 1931 was a bold step towards students taking responsibility for their own safety on the roads.

Since that time the crossing and warden systems have set an extremely high safety standard despite the challenges of increasingly heavy traffic and increased vehicle speeds.

New Zealand Police is very proud of the work that the students do in ensuring the safety of their peers and all those using the School Traffic Safety Teams.

Overseas jurisdictions often look to the uniqueness of the New Zealand system and work to replicate it but it is the commitment from the youth of this country that allows this system to work so successfully.

Rob Robinson
Commissioner of Police
2004

Contents

School patrols
  Patrol members, their duties and equipment
  Overview of training
  Going on patrol   Subsequent operation of the patrol
  Going off patrol
  Three ways of coping with high traffic volume
  Reporting infringements

Traffic wardens
  Traffic wardens and their equipment
  Overview of training
  Traffic warden operations
  Reporting infringements

Bus wardens
  Overview of training
  Travelling to school
  Travelling home from school
  Emergency procedures

Appendices
  Appendix 1: Marked pedestrian crossing
  Appendix 2: Advanced diamond warning sign
  Appendix 3: Kea crossing
  Appendix 4: School patrol sign
  Appendix 5: Kea crossing flag
  Appendix 6: School crossing sign
  Appendix 7: School patrol, traffic warden and school crossing point legislation
  Appendix 8: School patrol letter to parent or guardian
  Appendix 9: School patrol infringement report
  Appendix 10: School patrol, traffic warden and school crossing point responsibilities
  Appendix 11: Traffic warden letter to parent or guardian
  Appendix 12: Bus warden letter to parent or guardian
  Appendix 13: Code of conduct

Introduction

The New Zealand Police and New Zealand schools work together to run the School Traffic Safety Teams (STST). These teams aim to improve the safety of school students who are crossing the road near schools or travelling to school by bus.

The STST are run by responsible volunteer school students and supervised by adults. Land Transport NZ also plays a part in setting standards for the operation of the teams and being responsible for research, education and publicity.

The Police Education Officer (PEO), in conjunction with the local road controlling authority (RCA), the school principal and the board of trustees, decides which type of safety team is best for the school. This will depend on the volume of traffic, the type of intersection near the school, the number of students and their ages. The Police train team members and monitor both them and their equipment. School patrols and traffic wardens (legislatively known as school wardens) operate under legislation. School patrols are empowered to stop vehicles but traffic wardens can only control students, not traffic. The bus warden system is less formal.

An STST consists of:

School patrols

The school patrol system provides pedestrian control at specified pedestrian crossings using signs to stop traffic while children cross the road. Responsible students operate the patrol under adult supervision but in special circumstances adults may operate it.

American automobile clubs developed school patrols in the late 1920s because there were so many accidents involving children on the way to and from school. They were introduced into New Zealand when Mr Passmore of the Otago Motor Club suggested a patrol at Wakari School in Dunedin.

The first officially recognised school patrols began operation in 1931 at Linwood North School in Christchurch and Invercargill Middle School. The first patrol in the North Island began at Papakura School in Auckland in October 1934.

Initially, school patrols were supplied with a red pendant about 80 cm long, mounted on a short staff, but they had no control over traffic. As the number of school patrols grew, it became necessary for national standardisation and for a clear statement of patrol duties and the obligations of motorists and pedestrians. In 1944, the Traffic Regulations included school patrol legislation for the first time. Uniforms were standardised and warning devices for the patrols were updated in 1962. This was followed by the development of further regulations to cover issues such as parking so that patrols had good visibility on both sides of the crossing.

The number of pedestrians who use school patrols is quite staggering and approximately 950 school patrols operate nationally. On average, there are fewer than five injury accidents per year. This is less than one injury for every five million pedestrians crossing the road; an excellent safety record that is important to maintain.

Traffic wardens (legislatively known as school wardens)

Traffic wardens provide pedestrian control at specified crossing points. These may be pedestrian crossings, crossings controlled by traffic lights or unmarked crossing points. Traffic wardens have no control over vehicular traffic other than the operation of pedestrian traffic lights.

Bus wardens

The bus warden system provides supervision of children travelling to or from school by bus services contracted by the Ministry of Education or administered by the school. Bus wardens are usually older students who stay on the bus for most of the designated route.

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Page updated: 20 January 2005