Katikati Primary School’s board chair is calling on the community to make safety the top priority on Beach Rd at drop-off and pick-up times when Term 3 starts.

Anita Rapson wants drivers, cyclists, walkers and bus passengers to navigate the road past the schools with extra care, so everyone gets home safe.

She said she had grown increasingly concerned this year about the safety of children getting to and from school. “Beach Rd [between the schools] is very busy at drop-off and pick-up times.

“My main message to the community is to drive and park respectfully, and with kindness. The primary has roughly 520 students aged 5 to 11. Please look out for our little people.”

She said issues included people parking illegally on Beach Rd, vehicles not stopping at the pedestrian crossing between the primary school and Katikati College, and drivers speeding.

“We observe ongoing issues including dangerous driving practices, poor parking decisions and generally unsafe conduct by a range of road users.

“These behaviours are creating a situation where safety – particularly for our tamariki [children] – is at risk.”

Katikati Primary School Board of Trustee chair Anita Rapson on the Beach Rd pedestrian crossing, with student patrollers on duty. Photo / Merle Cave

Rapson said the school community lost use of Katikati Bowling Club’s grounds for parking this year – because of rule-breakers – which had put further pressure on Beach Rd at peak times.

Council monitoring

She contacted Western Bay of Plenty District Council in late May to request support.

The council’s team lead compliance support, Venita Campbell said the council monitored the situation on June 3-5 between 2.35pm and 3.15pm.

On June 3 council issued six parking infringements for parking on yellow lines, parking on the wrong side of the road and blocking driveways.

On June 4 council issued four parking infringements for parking in a bus stop, on a traffic island, blocking a driveway and parking on yellow lines.

On June 5 council issued six parking infringements for parking on yellow lines, on a traffic island, and blocking a driveway. Two offenders from June 3, committed the same offence in the same place.

“While any unsafe or illegal parking is concerning, the number of infringements over these three days is not considered unusually high compared with other schools across the district,” Campbell said.

She said council’s monitoring showed the biggest challenge was the large number of vehicles within a short time period. “This can lead to congestion, limited parking availability and drivers making rushed decisions.

“Most people comply with the road rules but even a small number of illegal parking or unsafe driving can increase safety risks and contribute to traffic delays.”

The Beach Rd pedestrian crossing in use while Katikati Primary School road patrollers are on duty, supervised by deputy principal Amanda Willett. Photo / Merle Cave

Campbell said the council would continue to monitor the area as operational priorities allowed. “Targeted patrols may be carried out during peak school periods, where appropriate. However, compliance with road rules remains the responsibility of every road user, regardless of whether enforcement staff are present.”

Campbell said during its monitoring, the council noticed the school’s drop-off/pick-up zone was not always used as intended, with vehicles left unattended and parked for longer than necessary, which contributed to traffic congestion.

“However, as the school’s drop-off and pick-up area is located on private property rather than council road reserve, we don’t have the authority to monitor or enforce parking behaviour within this area.”

Rapson said the school had told parents about this via newsletters and Facebook “but efforts have not been sufficient to change behaviour”.

“We want residents to know the school is asking our community to do the right thing – but we also need the wider community to make safety a priority,” Rapson said.

Katikati Primary School principal Andrea Nicholson said between her school and Katikati College about 1400 students used Beach Rd on weekdays.

She said her school’s Year 6 student road patrollers were on duty, supervised by an adult, at the Beach Rd pedestrian crossing weekdays from 8.10am-8.35am and 2.50pm-3.10pm. A Park Rd pedestrian crossing was also manned by primary school road patrollers and an adult during weekday drop-off and pick-up times.

Katikati Primary School Year 6 student road patrollers Olivia Lyver and Bethany Silby on duty on the Beach Rd pedestrian crossing. Photo / Merle Cave

“Trained by the police to operate the road crossing, they provide a valuable service – not only ensuring students from both the primary and college cross safely but also avoiding long delays for traffic as the students cross in groups, not individually.

Stop at pedestrian crossing

“We are very grateful to courteous drivers who stop when they see that there are groups of children waiting to cross the road,” Nicholson said.

“We do get concerned when we are coming off patrol however, as some motorists don’t recognise that when the school signs aren’t out, it is still a pedestrian crossing and that they need to stop for people waiting to cross.”

Nicholson said cars avoiding parking on yellow lines either side of the crossing would also help the patrollers. “We need to remember that [children] are much shorter than an adult and find it harder to judge the speed cars are travelling, so they need to be able to see well down the road in order to make safe calls.”

Katikati Primary School deputy principal Amanda Willett supervising her school’s road patrollers on the Beach Rd pedestrian crossing. Photo / Merle Cave

Katikati College principal Lousie Buckley said ensuring a safe traffic environment around the schools was an absolute priority. “Peak drop-off and pick-up times on Beach Rd are exceptionally busy, and we ask that all drivers exercise patience, follow the road rules, and strictly adhere to the speed limits in the school zone.”

Buckley strongly encouraged parents to avoid using the college’s main carpark for drop-offs and pick-ups. “With so many students exiting the grounds on foot, keeping this area clear of unnecessary vehicles significantly reduces the risk of accidents.”

Church’s short-term parking

St Peter’s Anglican Church spokesman Dan Euinton said short-term parking for school drop-off and pick-up was welcome at the church’s carpark, but vehicles left for extended periods reduced the parking available for op shop customers, funeral attendees, church members and community groups.

Senior Constable Bruce Morrissey said Katikati Police was aware of ongoing issues around driver behaviour near Katikati’s schools. “Katikati Police ask all drivers take extra care around all schools due to the unpredictable behaviour of young children, especially around drop-off and pick up times.

“Children can easily be obscured by parked vehicles. Children are often distracted walking in groups or using phones. A moment’s distraction or inattention by a driver can lead to a life-changing incident.”

Rapson said: “Whether you’re a parent, local resident, teacher or student – please use Beach Rd safely and park legally – I know it’s [peak-time traffic] really challenging for everyone but it’s the little people at risk. I am really worried someone is going to get hurt.”