Bus drivers pushing the limit

A Herald on Sunday test found 19 of 22 buses exceeded the speed limit in the 40km/h zones. Photo / Janna Dixon

Shocked education officials are surprised police won't put more effort into catching bus drivers who speed through special 40km/h zones.

A Herald On Sunday investigation found buses are routinely going too fast.

Nineteen of 22 buses monitored at schools around the Auckland region were over the speed limit and one was recorded at almost 60km/h.

The zones were put in place to keep school children safe.

But police say they will not react to our findings and become more proactive to stop dangerous bus drivers.

Auckland and New Zealand's top education officials say that's not good enough. Manukau City Council senior transport planner Kit McLean says police must enforce the law.

The Herald On Sunday used a speed radar gun, with an accuracy variance of 2km/h, to check for speeding buses.

The 40km/h zones are in place for 35 minutes before and 20 minutes after school. Motorists are alerted by large signs.

Counties-Manukau road policing manager Inspector Heather Wells said the signs were sufficient and police would not be introducing new enforcement measures.

"I think we've got to keep on with our education and enforcement," she said.

"There's a speeding problem full-stop, not just with buses. It's across the board. Some of the worst offenders are the parents taking their kids to school."

North Shore tactical co-ordinator Senior Sergeant Shanan Gray said police already monitor schools.

There would not be any extra resources or special operations set up because of the Herald On Sunday findings, he said.

"Certainly we do speed detection around schools. We can't be at every school but we try to get to most schools during the week," he said.

Police were unable to say how many tickets had been issued to drivers speeding in the 40km/h zones. But nationally 550 bus drivers were fined last year for speeding on all roads, compared to 708 in 2008.

Auckland Primary Principals' Association president Iain Taylor said the police attitude was "pretty shocking. I'm surprised to hear the police say it would be business as usual. From a school's perspective all the schools can do is ring the police when we see it."

New Zealand Secondary Schools Association president Patrick Walsh was also disappointed.

"[The police] indicated on Queen's Birthday weekend they have no tolerance for speeders.

"They should apply that same philosophy here."

Acting principal of Cornwall Park District School in Greenlane, John Davies, said there was enough evidence for police to beef up their presence around schools.

"The police view it as a low priority. That's why, if there was a road death created by traffic going too fast, there would be political fallout," he said.

"Then we'd see the police minister putting pressure on police to be seen to be doing something. It shouldn't take a death or serious injury to trigger some kind of response."

Principal of St Mary's School in Avondale, Rob Allen was alarmed at our findings.

"I would have thought the carriers would feel some sort of social and legal responsibility to comply with the law, particularly when it pertains to the safety of children."

Bus companies said drivers were constantly reminded to obey the law and the findings would be used to reinforce that.

But Ritchies Transport Holdings director Andrew Ritchie warned it was not only bus drivers who speed.

"It's a blatant disregard for school zones."

Waitakere Deputy Mayor Penny Hulse said all schools in New Zealand should have 40km/h limits like Australia.

"We know that we need to make the zones outside the schools safer. The next step is to get the police to step up the policing and we've got every confidence that they'll do that."

North Shore City Council transport spokesman Francis Martin said the council was disappointed by the results.

Auckland City Council transport performance manager Karen Hay was unaware of the speeding.