The crash prompted Honey to start a petition, urging Whang\u0101rei District Council to improve the crossing\u2019s safety<\/a>.<\/p>\n She wants visibility to be improved by cutting back obstructing trees, improving lighting and making all markings and signs highly visible.<\/p>\n Honey would also like improvements made to the crossing\u2019s design, such as raising the zebra crossing like the new crossings in Te Kamo, variable speed limits during school hours<\/a> and potentially, lights to control pedestrians<\/a>.<\/p>\n With congestion increasing on the road, including at the notorious Kiripaka Rd\/Spedding Rd\/Paramount Parade roundabout, a comprehensive safety overhaul is needed<\/a>, such as replacing the whole roundabout with lights, she said.<\/p>\n Honey recently saw a car clip a young child at the zebra crossing but the child, who was riding a bike, was thrown on to grass and was unhurt. The driver did not stop, she said.<\/p>\n \u201cShe was okay but it was very scary,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Honey hoped to present the petition to council in the new year.<\/p>\n Both she and Lewers also urged drivers to be more alert and considerate to those crossing.<\/p>\n Whang\u0101rei District Council<\/a> said it was open to improving visibility at the pedestrian crossing but said more expensive safety improvements would have to be prioritised against other long-term plan projects.<\/p>\n Jim Sephton, general manager of transport and community infrastructure, agreed a tree was partly obscuring views of the zebra crossing.<\/p>\n \u201cWe will arrange for this tree to be trimmed or removed to improve visibility.\u201d<\/p>\n Sephton also agreed raised crossings and improved signs were effective safety measures, with the council\u2019s limited funding being prioritised according to road safety needs.<\/p>\n \u201cCentral government no longer contributes funding for these types of crossings, so prioritisation is an essential part of the budgeting process.\u201d<\/p>\n Sephton said installing traffic signals at the roundabout would only be viable if traffic volumes increased, with the cost of up to $2 million attracting only limited subsidy from NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi. <\/p>\n \u201cAt present, the single-lane roundabout is suitable for current traffic volumes, and there is no funding allocated in the current Long Term Plan.\u201d<\/p>\n Residents can advocate for both increased crossing safety and intersection upgrades in the Long Term Plan process in 2026 and 2027, he said. <\/p>\n While the council continues to work with all schools on their safety plans, the legislation defines school zones as areas within 150m of the school grounds, Sephton said.<\/p>\n The Kiripaka Rd zebra crossing is 350m from Tikipunga Primary School<\/a>, making it outside the school\u2019s zone.<\/p>\nThe Kiripaka Rd pedestrian crossing in Tikipunga is partly obscured by a tree, and the flashing School Zone lights do not work. Photo \/ Denise Piper<\/p>\n