2016-12-06
Ms PENNICUIK (Southern Metropolitan) — My question is for the Minister for Roads and Road Safety and refers to the pedestrian crossing on Booran Road, Caulfield East, outside Glen Eira College. The school campus is split in two across Booran Road, and the pedestrian crossing with traffic lights allows students to cross. This is dangerous as students are crossing this busy road throughout the whole day for lessons in the gym and the English language centre, as well as to use the recreational space at recess and lunchtime. Parents and staff are very worried as there have been some near misses at this crossing, with cars not stopping in time or not stopping at all in some cases. This is despite teacher supervision of the crossing during the day and the presence of a crossing supervisor before and after school. There have been calls to extend the 40-kilometre-an-hour zone and put in place an electronic sign, but VicRoads says there is a 5 to 10-year wait for the school to receive that. It occurs to me that a pedestrian bridge might in fact be the answer at this particular site. In any case, my question to the minister is: will this crossing be made safe as soon as possible and certainly before the commencement of the 2017 school year?
ANSWER on 9 February 2017:
VicRoads advises me that it has been working closely with the school, council and Victoria Police to improve safety at this location. Since meeting in March 2015 and December 2015, vegetation trimming, linemarking refreshment and an LED signal lantern upgrade on 31 March 2016 to the pedestrian-operated signals have been undertaken to provide motorists with improved sightlines. Victoria Police was also requested to provide increased enforcement.
VicRoads has investigated the request for electronic speed signs on Booran Road. VicRoads determined that the existing static school speed signs are in accordance with the current Speed Zoning Guidelines and are appropriate and consistent with other locations on similar roads across the state.
VicRoads undertook on-site observations on 12 October 2016 and found general compliance from motorists with both the speed limit and the pedestrian crossing.