Speeding drivers nabbed

Tauranga police nabbed nine speeding motorists in just 45 minutes during a week-long clampdown on speeding outside schools.

Officers positioned on either side of Greenpark School on Cameron Rd yesterday also fined one motorist for chatting on their mobile phone while driving past the school and another for not wearing a seatbelt.

Western Bay of Plenty Police Sergeant Wayne Hunter said a number of drivers were also warned for double parking, parking on broken yellow lines and parking across driveway entrances outside the school.

The Back to School campaign, targeting morning and afternoon school traffic, would focus on a different Western Bay school each day this week, Mr Hunter said.

As well as police standing on the roadside with radar guns, the speed camera vehicle is also being parked outside schools.

Mr Hunter said police were pleased with the behaviour from the majority of drivers at the notorious spot for speedsters.

The wet weather on Monday meant only the speed camera vehicle was used.

Principal of Greenpark School Graeme Lind said speeding outside the school had decreased since 40km/h speed signs were installed outside the school at the beginning of 2010.

The signs are illuminated for 20 minutes during morning and afternoon peaks.

"In general terms the traffic has slowed down and certainly now we are in the winter months they are certainly more visible with the light on," he said.

He said police were often situated outside his school at the beginning of the new term.

"The reason for that is people are coming down from Pyes Pa which is a 60 or 70 area.

"It's just a matter of them remembering all the time to slow down but in general terms I think things have improved." Mr Lind expected traffic flows to continue to increase as more families moved to The Lakes subdivision and Te Maunga. He welcomed the unannounced police presence outside the school.