School zones aim to improve the safety of children around schools. They are marked out with flashing signals to warn drivers to reduce their speed to 40km/h at the beginning and end of the school day.

Councillor Ingrid Stonhill says her Road Safety Committee will recommend the Council approve three new zones:

• On Breezes Road at Chisnallwood Intermediate and Avondale School

• On Breezes Road at Aranui Primary and Aranui High School

• On Innes Road at Our Lady of Fatima School and Mairehau Primary School.

“Next financial year we have funding for three 40km/h school zones,” Cr Stonhill says. “To determine where they will go, every school in Christchurch was evaluated and ranked in terms of need. We have recommended that the schools with the greatest need get school zones first.

“It is hoped that eventually 40km/h will be the standard outside all schools.”

The Council financial year runs from July 1 to June 30 the following year. The committee’s recommendations will first be considered by the Sustainable Transport and Utilities Committee on 10 June (from 9.30am) and then by the full Council (26 June, from 2pm).