More than 150 schools took part in the 2026 Superhero Day, lighting up crossings with colourful costumes to drive home the road safety messages.
The initiative, where children volunteer to support their friends and community as crossing patrollers, is marked during New Zealand’s Road Safety Week.
Dylan Thomsen, from the Automobile Association (AA) which supports the event, said: “As soon as they can walk, kids need to be learning the risks of the road. Building habits, like using pedestrian crossings, as well as holding Mum or Dad’s hand when crossing the road are simple and useful skills to encourage.
“That’s why it’s so great to see these kids stepping up and volunteering to support their friends and community as crossing patrollers. If not for these kids, the chances of people getting hurt would be so much greater.”
Student-led crossing patrols were first introduced in the 1930s to help kids safely cross the road using mobile stop signs, following increasing concern of accidents involving child pedestrians.
Almost 100 years later, the need for crossing patrols remains, said the AA. In early 2026, five Kiwi children were hit by vehicles within weeks of the school term starting. On a single morning in February, there were two separate incidents of students being hit by cars.
“Drop off and pick up times bring a huge number of cars, buses, bikes, scooters, and pedestrians to the roads near schools making it very hazardous,” added Dylan.
“Parked cars create additional blind spots making it even harder to see small kids. It takes a team effort to ensure everyone’s safety.”
