Sam Sharland

Kia ora!

I'm Sam Sharland, your School Road Safety Advisor for Selwyn. My job is all about ensuring that our kids have a safe journey to and from school.

I work closely with all the schools in Selwyn and my main goal is to encourage active modes of transportation for students. I understand that not every family can choose these options, so my team and I are dedicated to making every type of transport a safe and secure choice for our students.

Let's work together to create a safe environment for our young commuters.

Road Safety Walking Tips

Have a chat with your tamariki about staying safe while walking, whether it's alone or with friends. Sometimes kids might not fully understand how to be safe around traffic, like when crossing the road. Children walking outside a school wearing hi-vis clothing

Here's what you can do:

  • Get down to your child's level by the kerb near your home.
  • Ask them what they can see and hear from where they're standing.
  • Remind them to; stop, look, listen and look again!


Here are some more rules you can teach them:

  • Stick to the footpath, stay close to houses and away from the road.
  • Keep an eye out for traffic when you approach driveways, even if it's a bit tricky.
  • Use pedestrian crossings or wait for traffic signals whenever you can.
  • Be extra careful in busy spots like car parks, school drop-off areas and bustling shopping areas with lots of cars.
  • When there's no footpath, walk on the side of the road where you can see the oncoming cars.
  • Share the footpath with others like skaters, scooters, wheelchairs and mobility scooters.