Responsibility, reliability and good listening is what it takes to keep their fellow friends safe on their school's road.

Road Safety Week starts off this week, from May 15-21. Coordinated by road safety charity Brake and sponsored by Waka Kotahi, this year's theme is ‘Be a road safety hero'.

'It's about raising awareness to the public and how everyone can play a part in making our roads safe but it's also recognising people who are already making our roads safer,” says Brake's director Caroline Perry.

More than 100 schools across Aotearoa will take part in the week, with a special day honouring school road patrols. Caroline says school road patrols are an important part of getting to and from school safely.

'To recognise that, we've invited schools to participate in a road patrol superhero day which celebrates the work of road patrol students that keep us safe, and students will be dressing up as road superheroes or superheroes.”

Papamoa's patrollers

Papamoa Primary School will be among schools taking part and will thank their own road safety heroes with a special morning tea.

Two of the school's road patrollers Cooper Whitaker and Locky O'Leary Measor gave the lowdown on what it takes to be a good patroller.

'It takes responsibility and reliability turning up early every time. You have to want to be helpful,” says Locky, aged 10.

'You need to know the rules of the road and know when to put out the signs. You also have to be a good listener,” says Cooper, aged 11.

The Sun asked the patrolling pair how they feel being seen as road safety heroes? 'Good. It's exciting and makes me feel happy to help people,” says Cooper.

'I feel proud. It's fun being a role model and I have a baby brother Boston and he looks up to me so I want to be a hero,” says Locky.

Caroline says Brake is really grateful for all the work that schools do with their road patrols and the students and the staff that support them 'so we want to thank them as part of road safety week”.

Safety Week runs nationwide from May 15-21.

To get involved, visit: http://www.roadsafetyweek.org.nz/