Editorial: Extra care needed on our roads

If the chill in the air and the heavy rain warning weren't enough to alert you to the fact it must be school holidays, maybe the sight of youngsters out and about during the day has done.

And maybe the story on our website at the weekend and in yesterday's paper about the boy hit by a bus will also serve as a reminder to take extra care on the roads over the next few weeks.

On Saturday morning a 9-year-old boy riding a push scooter collided with a bus at the corner of Ranolf and Amohau Sts next to the city's skate park.

He was taken to Rotorua Hospital before being transferred to Auckland's Starship Children's Hospital, where he was reported to be in a stable condition in the intensive care unit.

The skate park is a great facility in a central location, but that intersection has to be one of the city's busiest, and nearly every time I go through it I see Amohau St traffic - including large trucks - run the red light, at speed.

That's not what happened here but it's a good indication of the possible dangers facing skate park kids crossing the road.

Kids will be kids, and it's up to us as motorists to keep that top of mind driving past areas like the skate park.

Every weekend that park is jam-packed with skateboarders, scooter kids and BMXers.

It's worth noting that in the school holidays it's busy on weekdays too.

A road sign warning motorists that children may be crossing - as there are near schools - would be a welcome addition on the approaching roads.

But most useful would be a major increase in awareness, from both drivers and skate park kids, of road safety issues in the area.

What do you think?

email editor@dailypost.co.nz, text DP then your message to 021 241 4568, or write to editor, PO Box 1442, Rotorua