Kids risk death at school gate | Manawatu-Wanganui News | Local News in Manawatu-Wanganui

Children's lives are in danger because Wanganui motorists are just not alert enough.

Wanganui Police Constable Val Overweel made that point on Friday while monitoring a school crossing patrol at Wanganui East School.

Drivers need to be more alert, when driving past schools from 8.30-9am and after school from 2.45 to 3.15pm. Mrs Overweel said.

Crossing patrol officers in schools around Wanganui are trying to help their fellow students and their families cross the road safely.

"But drivers are not obeying the stop signs that are put out," Mrs Overweel said.

Year 6 students at local schools volunteer to become traffic patrol officers. They need to get permission from their parents before taking on this role but are trained by Wanganui Police to teach them road safety guidelines.

"We get them to undergo training. The students need to know how to work the signs and know the road rules," Mrs Overweel said.

There are six schools in Wanganui that have "Kea" crossings for students to use when crossing the road.

"A big problem area is St John's Hill School, and the crossing in Great North Rd. There is a lot of through traffic coming past and drivers are not always alert." On Friday afternoon, crossing patrol officers at Wanganui East School were out doing their daily job to help others cross the road safely.

Patroller Rivers Kumeroa Whaanga,10, said: "I like being a traffic patrol officer, it is fun. I enjoy bringing the signs in and taking them out. It is annoying when drivers go speeding past or they keep going when we have one sign out, it is freaky."

When stop signs are out, even if there is only one sign, traffic approaching from both directions needs to stop until the signs are brought back in.

"Police are notified of drivers who do not obey this law, and fines of $150 will be issued," Constable Overweel said.

"Drivers need to wake up before they get behind the wheel of a car."