This is a new road sign outside a high school near Christchurch. The school designed it and the local council approved it.
We are familiar with a road sign which shows a picture of children and sometimes the words: “Watch out for children”. This kind of sign is usually outside a primary school, a kindergarten or a playground. Another sign, which is not so common, has a picture of elderly people. This may be outside a rest home or a retirement village.
However, the sign above is the first road sign which has shown teenagers. The principal of the school says that their school is near a busy road and the sign is a warning to drivers to watch out for school students at the end of the school day.
“They are teenagers. They are hooked into their technology. They do tend to not look left and right before they cross,” he said.
He thinks it would be a good idea for other schools to copy this sign.
Vocabulary
• approved (v) – said “yes”
• hooked into (v phrase) – attracted to, addicted to