Bryan Ward - Counties Manukau Police Target Drivers in New Intersection Campaign

A new initiative from Counties Manukau Police is designed to get Kiwis thinking about their actions at intersections.  A video clip with a song called "Twinkle Twinkle Traffic Light" is launched today, featuring around 35 children from a local District day care, local ambulance officers, fire fighters and Police officers, Counties Manukau Police District Commander John Tims, children's TV personality Suzy Cato, Jane Kiely and celebrity Police officer and canine sidekick Constable Bryan Ward and Bobby.
 
Data shows that around 4,500 collisions are dealt with in the Counties Manukau Police District every year.  Around 50% of all crashes happen at intersections, with key crash factors including poor observation, failure to stop/give way and incorrect lane or position.  The objective of the song is to create awareness around the dangers of intersections.
 
Inspector Julia Lynch, Counties Manukau Road Policing Manager, says that getting the message through via the children is a good way to allow the message to filter upwards to the drivers and adults of the community.
 
"We want to remind people to slow down at intersections and be aware of their following distance.  We're taking it back to basics - remember that a red light means stop.  Kids know this and they will remind their parents of the simplest road rules."
 
The song is launched within a wider campaign to get kids involved in road safety.  Preschools, day care centres, primary and intermediate schools in the Counties Manukau District will have colouring in competitions distributed to them by Police, which will work alongside a Bryan and Bobby road safety lesson available to teachers.  One colouring in competition winner will receive a visit to their class from Bryan and Bobby as well as a tour of the Counties Manukau District Headquarters.  Other winners will be selected to receive prizes that have been donated by Variety, the Children's Charity.
 
Students around the country are invited to create their own version of the Twinkle Twinkle Traffic Light video and upload it to the Treehut TV YouTube channel.
 
The message is simple, says Inspector Julia Lynch.
 
"Slow down, take care, be considerate and watch out for pedestrians, especially the little ones."
 
The Counties Manukau Police District covers from Sylvia Park in the north to Mercer in the South, and from Mangere Bridge in the west to Beachlands in the east.
 
To view the Twinkle Twinkle Traffic Light song, click here.