It is only a matter of time until Marlborough children who catch a school bus are seriously injured if cars continue to speed past them, according to a bus company manager.
Ritchies manager Greg Jowers said few cars drove past school buses dropping off children at the required 20kmh.
He had not seen any accidents in his seven years as manager, but he said there had been some close calls.
"We've been pretty fortunate that, from memory, no-one has been hurt in Marlborough from stepping off the bus," he said.
However, the law of averages meant something would happen eventually, he said.
A 12-year-old Nelson boy was seriously injured and taken to Nelson Hospital after he was hit by a four-wheel-drive after stepping off a school bus.
Grovetown School principal Selena Tonks was especially aware of the speed of cars driving past the school, because it was in a rural area.
The school was in a 50kmh residential area, but this quickly changed to 80kmh, she said.
There was "no chance" of drivers sticking to the required 20kmh, she said. The ingredients for an accident were there.
Parent Mandy Macfarlane said it was "amazing" how fast cars, and even tractors, were going when they went past the school.
Children were unpredictable and could shoot out from in front of the bus at any time, she said.
Mr Jowers said the bus company was responsible for children from the time they got on the bus to the time they got off. The drivers were trained to be aware of their surroundings and to use several safety measures, including using their hazard lights when stopping and to have the school sign showing only when there were children on board to avoid any confusion for drivers, he said.
"We [Ritchies] are doing what we can [to keep the pupils safe], but it would be nice to see drivers slow down," he said.
Police did not have enough resources to effectively enforce the legal speed limit when passing school buses, he said.
North Canterbury mother Lucinda Rees has started a campaign for a national speed limit of 40kmh around schools and for the better warning of school buses.
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