School patrol facilities and school crossing points (Kea crossings)

A school patrol is used to assist, direct and supervise children on their way to or from school on an identified school crossing (kea crossing) point. The patrols are undertaken by approved members of the school community (adults and pupils). Further information and guidance on these facilities and board of trustees’ responsibilities can be found in clauses 8.3 and 8.4 of the TCD Rule and Traffic Note 29 and can also be found with the School traffic safety team manual.

Traffic notes

A school crossing is a pedestrian crossing facility operated by members of a school patrol. The school patrol members may require traffic to stop to allow pedestrians to cross the road by extending School Patrol Signs into the roadway.

Legislation

Where a school crossing operates, it must be operated in accordance with clause 8.3 of the TCD Rule.

The requirements for a school crossing point are outlined within clause 8.4 of the TCD Rule and include:

(1)   A road controlling authority may provide a school crossing point on a road for which a speed limit of 50 km/h or less is set.

(2)   A road controlling authority may provide a school crossing point on a road for which a speed limit of more than 50 km/h is set if it has obtained the approval of the Agency and complies with the conditions of the approval. (see note 1)

(3)   Before establishing a school crossing point, a road controlling authority must obtain the agreement of the Board of Trustees of each school that is served by the school crossing point.

(4)   A school crossing point must be placed so that:

(a)   it, and the school patrol when operating, is visible to a driver approaching the crossing point from any direction; and

(b)   the driver’s view of the entire length of the crossing is unobstructed by any permanent growth, construction or physical feature.

(7)   Unless 8.4(8) applies, all ‘School Patrol’ signs and ‘Children’ flag signs must be removed from a school crossing point when a school patrol is not operating.

(8)   ‘School Patrol’ signs and ‘Children’ flag signs may be stored at a school crossing point in storage devices that must:

(a)   be designed to enclose the circular panel of a school patrol stop sign so that it is not readily visible when inside the storage device; and

(b)   be white or grey in colour, with white or grey fittings, except that the surfaces of the storage device facing the footpath or the roadway may display a road safety message for pedestrians, providing that the message is not readily visible or distracting to vehicular traffic approaching the school crossing point; and

(c)   unless the school patrol stop sign handle is white, shield the handle of the school patrol stop sign so that no black and white bands are visible when the school patrol sign is inside the storage device; and

(d)   be oriented to present the smallest possible dimensions to vehicular traffic approaching the school crossing point.

Note 1: It is not good practice nor recommended that a school crossing point be installed on a road to which the posted speed limit is more than 50km/h. Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency must be consulted if there is intent to provide a pedestrian crossing in this instance.

Signs and markings

The following signs and markings are used at school crossing points:

• a continuous white centreline of minimum length 30m must be marked on the approaches to the crossing (refer to the standard centre-lines section for centre-line specifications);
  Standard centre-lines
• no stopping at all times marking must be marked over a minimum length of 15m on each approach, this can be reduced to 6m where there is a bulbous kerb at least 1.8m wide or parking inset providing adequate visibility (refer to TCD manual Part 13 - Section 6.2 for specification). On the departure side, the length of the no stopping restriction must be a minimum of 6m; and
  TCD manual Part 13
• where necessary, have bulbous kerbs or similar device to ensure the width of the crossing point does not exceed 10m from kerb to kerb. In some cases, the kerbs can extend to the limit line which would maintain visibility and discourage illegal parking.

The RCA is responsible for installing and maintaining all signs and markings associated with the kea crossing.

Typical layout and signage

A typical layout of a school crossing point is shown in Figure 7‑5, and guidance for the relevant signs is shown in Table 7‑2. Where a school crossing is installed across a road with cycle lanes or cycle paths, the cycle lane or cycle path may be continued through the crossing. However, the kerb buildouts required to achieve a maximum crossing distance of 10m will represent a pinch point for cyclists. Designers should take care to appropriately manage the conflict that may arise from this situation. 

Table 7‑2

Figure 7‑5: Typical layout of a school crossing point.

View larger image [JPG, 3.3 MB]

Table 7‑2: Signs for school crossing points 

Sign code	Example	Description/use
R2-4 School patrol stop RP31 (Pole) (see note 1) School patrol stop (pole)		Are to be used by properly trained and supervised personnel to control road traffic at sites where school patrols have been authorised to operate. The basic requirements for R2-4 & RP31 signs are set out in Schedule 1 and clause 8.3(7) of the TCD rule. The Rule requires a minimum size sign disc of 750mm diameter mounted at an angle on a pole or staff not less than 1.5m in length. The text and colouring may appear on both sides of the disc.  For sign location see note 2. When the sign is not in use it must either be removed from the crossing point or stored in accordance with clause 8.4(8) of the TCD rule
W16-4 Children W16-5.1 School - supplementary		Should be installed where school buildings or grounds are adjacent to the road and where in the opinion of the RCA, passing traffic creates a hazard to pupils. Should not be used when a W16-2 and W16-5.1 sign combination is installed or where a W16-4 sign on its own would be more appropriate. An additional supplementary sign no larger than 600mm x 250mm, of the same colour and format as the W16-5.1 sign, and displaying the name of the school, may be installed on the same support and 100mm below the W16-4 and W16-5.1 sign combination. For sign location see note 3.
W16-2 Pedestrian crossing W16-5.1 School - supplementary		Should be installed in advance of a marked pedestrian crossing (zebra) at which a school patrol may be in attendance and on those crossings immediately adjacent to the school property which in the opinion of the RCA are used extensively by school children. For sign location see note 4.
W16-4.1 Children flag sign		Children flag signs are removable, lightweight, collapsible, orange or red fluorescent, diamond shaped flags that are constructed of soft material. These signs are placed in special mounting posts that are situated on both kerb extensions so they are visible to motorists. They must only be used when a school crossing is in operation. When the signs are not in use they must either be removed from the crossing point or stored in accordance with clause 8.4(8) of the TCD rule. W16-4.1 Flags must not be used at pedestrian (zebra) crossings even if there is a school patrol operating (see note 5 below). For sign location see position ‘B’ in Figure 7‑5. Figure 7‑5

Table 7-2 notes:

1. The pole used at a school crossing is not specified in the TCD Rule. The code provided here is the online sign specification.
2. Full operational requirements for the use of R2-4 School patrol stop signs are given in the School Safety Team Manual (New Zealand Police, Waka Kotahi: September 2016). Details of the support ‘A’ frame are contained in the sign specifications.
   Sign specifications
3. Drivers should not pass more than one School – supplementary sign before reaching the school. The sign should be clearly visible to approaching drivers over a distance of at least 120m in rural areas and at least 60m in urban areas, and where possible without causing confusion, be in advance of the school grounds by 100m in rural areas and 30m in urban areas. The symbol should be oriented such that the pedestrians appear to be walking towards the roadway; eg where the sign is installed on the right-hand side of the road, the symbol should be reversed.
4. Warning signs should be located where approaching drivers have an uninterrupted view of it over a distance of at least 120m in rural areas and at least 60m in urban areas. The sign should be installed in advance of the hazard area by at least the distance shown in the table below.
5. The W16-4.1 children flag/kea crossing flags must not be used for school patrols operating at pedestrian (zebra) crossings. A kea crossing is a part time crossing facility and therefore depends on the temporary W16-4.1 flags for their conspicuity.  Using W16-4.1 flags at zebra crossings undermines the effectiveness of the flags at kea crossings as well as the permanent nature of the pedestrian crossing facility to the road user.

School crossing points on roads with speed limits greater than 50km/h

School crossing points (‘kea crossings’) on roads with speed limits exceeding 50km/h require the approval of Waka Kotahi. This is also applicable to existing school crossing points where the speed limit is increased.

The school and board of trustees are responsible for operating, training and supervising the crossing.

Further information is available in the school traffic safety team manual(external link)

Warrants

Kea crossings are effective over a wide range of vehicle and pedestrian volumes. Kea crossings are impractical and unjustified where the half-hour product of pedestrians and vehicles is less than 3,000. While a number of sites have operated successfully where the half hour product exceeds 20,000, at these levels, alternative treatments should be considered.