New variable speed limits are now in force outside two rural schools in the Western Bay of Plenty, with police urging motorists to slow down and take extra care around children.
Senior Sergeant Wayne Hunter said electronic signage is now operational at Kaimai School on State Highway 29 and ACG School on Pyes Pa Road, marking the rollout of variable speed school zones in the area.
During peak times before and after school, the speed limit at both sites drops from 100km/h to 60km/h.
Police say the changes are aimed at improving safety for tamariki, particularly in rural areas where higher speed limits have traditionally applied near school entrances.
“Drivers need to be aware of the new limits and adjust their speed accordingly,” Hunter said, adding that the reduced limits will be actively enforced.
The rollout follows a series of speed limit changes introduced late last year across parts of the Coromandel and wider region, including sections of State Highway 25 through Kūaotunu and Wharekaho, between Thames and Tararu, and on State Highway 2 through Waihī and Karangahake.
Variable speed zones are already common in urban areas, where limits typically reduce to 30km/h during school start and finish times.
Police are reminding motorists to remain vigilant when travelling through school zones and to prioritise safety as students arrive and leave school.
