145 are caught in school speed blitz
A two-week police clampdown on speeding past Omarama School has caught no fewer than 145 motorists.
Operation Barrel, a campaign aimed at getting people to slow down past the primary school, wrapped up on November 2.
But police say they will continue to monitor the issue and will be stringently enforcing the 40km/h rule in the school zone.
Omarama, Kurow and Oamaru police were deployed around the school zone throughout the key risk times each day - between 8am and 9am, and 3pm and 4pm - for two weeks.
In the first week of the operation, 51 tickets were issued to speeding drivers and 94 in the second.
Friday, October 28, saw 17 tickets issued in one hour, averaging a speeding driver every 3 minutes.
Omarama police Constable Nayland Smith said the operation had been a success.
"I have heard from members of the public that people are saying 'don't speed past the school in Omarama or you'll get a ticket'," he said.
Not one ticket was issued to an Omarama local.
The highest speed recorded was 90km/h, allegedly by an Oamaru woman.
"Her reason was she did not realise she was in a 50km/h area, despite driving through firstly a 70km/h zone then past the signs warning that in 150m there is a 50km/h zone, then past the school sign, then past the large 1.5sq m 50km/h signs," Mr Smith said.
He said that, even though the area was well signposted, he heard all too often that people claimed to be unaware they were in a 50km/h zone.
"NZTA have been fantastic to deal with. After installing the signs warning of the approaching 50km/h zone, they recognised that this had not alleviated the issue and have subsequently approved funding for two speed feedback flashing signs to be installed, which is what I've wanted all along. So I'm very happy," Mr Smith said.
He thought the signs, expected to be installed before Christmas, would greatly improve motorists' behaviour.
When the signs were installed, police would continue to monitor the issue. "[Police] will stringently enforce the 40km/h rule in a school zone, even once the new signs are installed. So drivers beware," he said.
