By Victoria Stone-Meadows
PEARCEDALE Primary School has been denied flashing 40km/h signs near the school, with the State Government saying the Baxter-Tooradin Road isn’t busy enough to need the signs.
Baxter Primary School is located about six kilometres away from Pearcedale Primary school on the same road has had the flashing signs installed.
While Pearcedale Primary School has static 40km/h signs, Assistant Principal Jeff Mead says they aren’t good enough and the school needs the flashing lights.
“There are traffic lights there and they are manned with the lollypop person but our concern for a number of years has been the increase in traffic as the area has built up,” he said.
“There is a static 40km/h sign near the school but it’s not working, people don’t abide by it.
“No-one has been hit but we don’t want to wait for an accident, we want to be pro-active on this.
“Safety is a concern and we want everyone to be safe; kids, parents, staff and community.”
Member for Hastings Neale Burgess has visited the school to speak about the issue and collect petitions to be delivered to the State Government to have the flashing signs installed.
“Pearcedale Primary has a current student enrolment of 730 students, and parents have become increasingly concerned about the high number and speed of vehicles passing within metres of the school property and their children,” he said.
“Cars and children are never a good mix and while reducing the speed limit to 40km/h will not remove all risk, it will give drivers and our children a better chance of seeing each other.”
Mr Burgess has said the government has stopped funding installation of the flashing 40km/h signs around schools, but a spokesperson for the Minister for Roads could not confirm this.
The minister’s spokesperson said due to the history of the Baxter-Tooradin Road and current road use, Pearcedale Primary School did not qualify for the flashing signs.
“We are aware of the request for electronic speed signs on Baxter-Tooradin Road, near the Pearcedale Primary School,” the spokesperson said.
“This request has been investigated and at this stage the road does not require electronic flashing signs.
“However, we will continue to monitor Baxter-Tooradin Road and work with their community around any future improvements.”
According to the office of the Minister for Roads, the Baxter-Tooradin Road carries approximately 8000 vehicles a day and there have been no pedestrian related crashes between Middle Road and Pearcedale Road in the latest five-year period ending 31 December last year.
