The truck driver lost control, the truck ploughed into the kindy, the teacher pushed the kids out of the way, but died herself.
The speed limit outside that kindergarten was supposed to be dropped from 50 to 40 kph – but hadn’t been.
A similar thing happened a few weeks ago in Melbourne.An SUV crashed into a primary school, killing an 11-year-old boy and hurting 4 other children.
I don't love speed reductions.
All too often they’re done in stupid places like open roads. But when it comes to places where kids are, I've completely 180’d on this.
I read the book ‘The Anxious Generation’ a few weeks ago. The book tracks why kids are having mental crises en masse lately.
One of the reasons, particularly for boys, is that since the 1970s parents have increasingly stopped their kids from just playing around the neighbourhood on their bikes, or running around with other kids - because parents are scared of fast traffic.
And with good reason... cars go fast in our suburbs.
I live on a road that’s 30kph. No one does 30kph – I don't do 30kph.
The good news is that because of recent rule changes here, Auckland schools should have lower speed limits during school hours by the end of 2027. But, I wouldn’t mind if that was pretty much everywhere where kids are.
I get that would drive people bonkers, having to slow down all the time around houses and parks and schools...
It would require us sacrificing our time.
But, for the benefit of going as fast as we do around kids... we are sacrificing quite a lot.
Their best childhoods.
Heather du Plessis-Allan is a journalist and commentator who hosts Newstalk ZB's Drive show HERE - where this article was sourced.
5 comments:
Maybe it would help if we stopped telling kids we are all going to die' it might help. Telling a high proportion that they are responsible for all the bad things that have happened in the world. Telling any kid with a penis that they are rapists deep down.
We could try telling kids to be kids and let the adults deal with the big stuff. Fat chance though.
Actual premises seem the least of dangers. Many traffic lanes are now immediately adjacent the kerb; children are at great risk near the edge and at huge risk if bumped or pushed etc. Very many drivers are now distracted by complex dashboard controls; displays, sat navs, phones, audio controls etc. Car manufacturers strive for ever more gimmicky distractions whereas the cars of yesteryear fosterd concentration.
I grew up in a country that had traffic that had traffic slow down in most areas children were expected.
The areas were referred to as "built up zones". That country was called New Zealand.
The system worked rather well until pathetic bastards started hand-delivering their children to school rather than let them learn the etiquette of the road (eg cars and trucks take time to stop so playing on the white line requires judgement) from their siblings and peers.
CXH-absolutely.
I believe if police actually policed the cellphone ban while driving it would make the roads a hell of a lot safer too.
I'm forever having to give people a toot to get their eyes up and on the road.
School zones light up when required - 40KM speed limit - so on streets where there are schools, kindergartens etc why not just set blanket 40 km limits? As a driver I wouldn't mind.
As for distractions, several times recently I've had to step back whilst using a pedestrian crossing - yep, I could see the drivers holding up their cell phone. Dangerous and annoying.
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