New Jackets for School Traffic Safety Teams

All School Traffic Safety Teams (STSTs) will have new lightweight bright orange safety jackets for the start of term 4. The decision to supply STSTs with new jackets was made in response to feedback from schools on the current safety coats, which schools consider are too hot for children to wear all year round. 

Features of the new safety jacket include:

• lightweight material that meets the required safety standards

• 3/4 sleeve to increase visibility when students are side-on to traffic

There will now be a choice for STSTs who can wear the new lightweight jacket in warmer weather or the current hooded jacket when the weather is inclement. 

Police Education Officers will be distributing the new jackets to your schools and will collect up old sleeveless vests and any old coats which have now been withdrawn from the service. 

Please support Police to enhance the safety of the 23,000 students per year who do STST duties by ensuring all your STST patrollers wear the new safety jacket and/or coat. If all STSTs throughout New Zealand wear the same jackets, it will maximise their safety.  If you have any concerns about the STST safety clothing or any other issues in relation to school patrols or road safety around your school, contact your local Police Education Officer.

Thank you for your valuable feedback which has led to this change.  It is critical that we all work together to provide conditions for STST patrollers to ensure their health and safety.  You can feel confident that Police will continue to make decisions in consultation with schools, the New Zealand Principals’ Federation and the New Zealand School Trustees Association.