Hoon Avenue

By Bridget Brady
PARENTS in a Cranbourne street are frightened to let their children play in their front yards, saying hoons are threatening their safety.
The Hoysted Avenue residents have re-named their street ‘Hoonsted Avenue’, and are fed up with vehicles “tearing up” their street and travelling at dangerous speeds all hours of the day and night.
They want speed humps installed in their street, which is near Courtenay Gardens Primary School, and said it was only a matter of time before someone was seriously injured.
Resident Alan Hudson said hoon behaviour on the street, including fishtailing, was “out of control”.
“They’ve got no respect for the people who live in the area,” Mr Hudson said.
“You can’t even trust them (children) to walk down the street wondering if they’re going to walk in the front door. It’s scary.”
Lynn Dennehy said residents did not allow their children to play in front yards because motorists had lost control of their cars and ploughed into lounge rooms this year.
“You shouldn’t have to park your car in front of your lounge room to prevent a car coming in the front of your window,” she said.
Ms Dennehy said she would move out of the street if she could afford it.
A car crashed through Valerie Ah Young’s house in August while she sat in the living room watching television.
“That was really a shock for me. It is my first year in Australia. I was really scared,” she said.
Another resident, Regan Delittle, said some motorists travelled about 100km/h on the street, which had a 40km/h speed limit in some areas near the primary school.
Mr Delittle said he feared no action would be taken to make their street safer until a tragedy occurred.
“It’s only a matter of time,” Mr Delittle said.
“You should be able to feel safe in your own home. It’s not fair on any of the neighbours.”
Mr Delittle said he had been mouthed off at by hoons when he approached them about slowing down and driving responsibly.
“You can’t say too much because they know where you live.”
The residents said they would present a petition to the council next year and request speed humps or other traffic calming devices be installed.
City of Casey mayor Lorraine Wreford this week encouraged residents to report hoon behaviour to the council’s 24-hour Hoon Hotline.
“If you witness inappropriate driver behaviour, hooning or other unsafe activity, I urge you to report it to the City of Casey’s Hoon Hotline on 1800 18 HOON,” Cr Wreford said.
“All information generated from the hotline is kept for investigation and statistical purposes, primarily to help the council and the police identify potential hot spots for irresponsible driving.”