Claude Bangard, with Huon Park Road residents, fears a life may be lost if something is not done to stop hoon drivers terrorising the Cranbourne North street.By Alison Noonan
HOON drivers are transforming family-filled streets in Cranbourne North into high-powered raceways as they clock speeds in excess of 120km/h.
Residents of Huon Park Road say they feel like waving the chequered flag each weekend as motorists speed down their streets in a deadly race which they fear will one day end in disaster.
John Foley said he was regularly woken to the sound of screeching tyres, smashing bottles and even the odd crash.
He said drivers turn the speed-calming devices scattered throughout Huon Park Road into a game to see how fast they can dodge or run over the traffic islands.
“They ought to change the street name to Firestone or Le Mans because it feels like a racing track,” he said.
“They go up our street at over 100km/h – no joke. It is mindless, absolute stupidity.
“They go around the wrong side of the islands or see how fast they can go through them.
“There are kids in this street and one day they will end up collecting a kid or swerve, lose control and end up killing themselves.”
Mr Foley said hoon drivers had long been a problem on Huon Park Road and he didn’t want to see a fatality occur before something was done.
“Why should it take a fatality to see some action being taken here?” he said.
“I know police have got their hands full and can’t be here all the time, but maybe if we had fixed speed cameras or rubberised speed humps it might deter these idiots.
“At the moment it’s just madness here.”
Local Claude Bangard said residents had circulated a petition to present to Casey Council calling for a stop to the “unbearable level of hooning” on Huon Park Road.
He said residents wanted speed humps installed on the road, the speed limit reduced from 50km/h to 40km/h and a greater police presence in the area.
“We don’t want to wait until somebody is killed to react,” he said.
“The petition will be tabled at a future council meeting and we are planning a public meeting to discuss the issue.
“Residents are furious. We want something done.
“This is not a safe place any more and it is taking its toll on residents,” Mr Bangard said.
Casey mayor Kevin Bradford said the council would consider trialing ‘bus pads’ – rubberised speed humps that forced cars to drive at low speed.
“Council is looking at ways to deal with the problem of irresponsible drivers,” he said.
“Bus pads are an effective and affordable road safety measure and I am hopeful that something like this could be installed on Huon Park Road.”
