Following the death of a Matamata boy yesterday Waikato Police are urging motorists to heed the speed limit when passing school buses picking up and dropping off children.
The 12-year-old Matamata Intermediate School pupil had been dropped off by a school bus on Tower Rd about 3.45pm when it appears he has strayed into the path of an oncoming car.
The incident is being investigated by the Waikato Serious Crash Unit and the boy's death has been referred to the Coroner.
His name has not yet been released.
A spokesman for the family has asked Police to convey their wish for privacy at this time. The boy's name is due to be released on Monday.
This latest tragedy takes the Waikato's road toll to 18 compared to 23 for the same period last year.
Waikato Road Policing Manager, Inspector Leo Tooman, said it was crucial that people observed the speed restriction of 20km/h when passing stationary school buses.
"Thousands of children take the school bus everyday and it is one of the safest forms of transport around but the stakes are too high and it just takes a second for disaster to strike.
"If you drop your speed to 20km/h it gives you that much more time to react and reduces the forces of any impact considerably. At the same time if you're travelling with your lights on it makes your vehicle that much more visible to children."
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