Speed cameras find drivers doing up to 78 km/h around schools

The highest speed recorded this month was 78km/h past Grovetown School - 28km/h over the limit. Photo / Thinkstock

If drivers do not change their behaviour and slow down around schools, a tragic crash will happen, police say.

Police in Marlborough will be targeting drivers in an effort to convince people that they must slow down around schools, Acting Area Commander Senior Sergeant Peter Payne said.

"We need this community to step up too."

Over the past two months a speed camera has been set up at the schools where statistics show children were at greatest risk of being severely injured.

In April the speed camera recorded that 13.96 per cent of vehicles passing Spring Creek School were exceeding the speed limit.

At Grovetown School 9.6 per cent of all drivers were exceeding the speed limit and at Renwick School 7.93 per cent of drivers were exceeding the speed limit past the school, Mr Payne said.

"As we head into May those numbers only get worse."

A three day operation in May saw 12.27 per cent of vehicles speeding past Spring Creek School, 25.11 per cent speeding past Grovetown School, 9.44 per cent speeding past Renwick School and 5.64 per cent of drivers were speeding past Queen Charlotte College.

The highest speed recorded this month was 78km/h past Grovetown School - 28km/h over the limit.

The majority of the tickets issued during the operation were for offences between 60 - 70km/h, Mr Payne said.

On one morning alone 115 people were detected speeding past Queen Charlotte College.

"This sort of driver behaviour is putting the most vulnerable members of our community at undue risk of serious injury.

"Every one of us has a responsibility to look out for kids and do what we can to keep them safe. In Marlborough today that has to start with drivers slowing down around schools," he said.

Police would continue to pay close attention to driver behaviour around schools and drivers exceeding the limit should expect to receive a ticket, he said.