Ōpaki students practise keeping safe at level crossings

A ‘gamefication app’ involving an online avatar called Amy, helped teach students at Ōpaki School about being safe at level crossings.  Just north of Masterton, many of the community’s young people cross the tracks to get to school.  While this part of the line doesn’t have daily commuter trains there are plenty of maintenance trains moving up and down. 

Wairarapa Road Safety Council Schools Coordinator Holly Hullena was there to lead the session, alongside KiwiRail’s Digital Engineer Kylie Crump who helped to design and build the ap, and Project Manager David Sauvageon. 

“The main thing these children need to know is that there could be a train come along at any time,” Holly says. 

“The school here is really proactive.  We work together on road safety for the kids, and rail safety is an important part of that,” she says. 

The rail safety ap developed by the KiwiRail digital team takes the children for a virtual walk over the Western Lake Road level crossing near Featherston.  It prompts them to answer questions about what to do as they approach, if they get stuck between the gates, and how to cross safely.  

Five groups of around 35 children attended the session where they saw the game in action, and took turns at being a ‘human train’ while their classmates practiced crossing safely.

What do you think our main focus is today – “crossing safe”, answers one young student. 

What’s the main difference between a game and real life – “there are no second chances”, says another, “especially with trains.”

What do you do when you want to cross a level crossing – “stop, look and listen”, the children say in unison. 

Principal Nathalie Jeeves-Edwards says there are children that walk from the suburb across the tracks, as well as students from Mauriceville and other places arriving in cars, and it’s not just about being safe during school time.

“It's really pertinent to us that we offer this to our students.  We know Holly, we have that relationship and it’s important that the students get that consistent message. 

"We also have kids going home and talking to their families about what they are learning, as a result the information reaches far wider than just school - it gets right through the community," says Nathalie.