February 27, 2009

The success of safety initiatives which have contributed to an over 50% decrease in the Christchurch road toll will be celebrated next week.
Christchurch City Council Road Safety Co-ordinator Susan Cambridge says, since its inception in 1989, the Christchurch Road Safety Co-ordinating Committee, comprising 18 organisations, has introduced about 40 campaigns, generally based on New Zealand Police crash data.
'In the 1980s Christchurch had the highest rate of road fatalities per 100,000 people, of any local authority area in the country.
'During the five years to 1989, on average 30 people a year lost their lives on Christchurch roads.
'The Committee is very encouraged that the number of deaths dropped to 12 a year on average, during the five years to 2007.'
The Council-led Committee, New Zealand's first, has been used as a model for road safety organisations in other parts of the country.
Four of the Committee's initiatives have also been implemented nationwide, including Cycle Safe, a cycle training programme for year 6 Christchurch students which has been provided since 1997.
Ms Cambridge says Crash Bash is another success story. The drama script-writing competition is open to Christchurch schools, and the winning entry is developed and performed at schools throughout the city by professional actors.
A third initiative that has been implemented nationwide teaches students about the impact speed has on stopping distances, involving a driving instructor approaching cardboard figures to demonstrate how much longer it takes to stop at 60kph, as opposed to 50kph. St John Ambulance and the New Zealand Fire Service also stage a mock crash.
The comprehensive Safe Routes to School programme improved safety for students travelling to and from school through education, enforcement, engineering and encouragement. It also led to Chaos at the School Gate, aimed at improving parking practices outside schools; walking school buses; and Walking Wednesdays, which encourage children to walk to school.
These initiatives are among many to be celebrated at the Committee's 20th anniversary on Monday 2 March.
Ms Cambridge says the Committee is also planning future programmes, including developing the Cycle Safe principles into national cycle training guidelines, with a greater amount of on-road training; Feet First, a national initiative based on Walking Wednesdays; and focussing on safety for cyclists and pedestrians in Christchurch, to promote sustainable and active modes of transport.