By Jodie Symonds
WESBURN Primary School wants electronic 40km/h speed signs to improve safety.
State Member for Eildon Cindy McLeish, State Member for Ferntree Gully Nick Wakeling and principal of Wesburn Primary School Anne Stenhouse met on Thursday 3 November at Wesburn Primary School to discuss the issue.
Safety, large trucks, speed, and volume of traffic were just some of the concerns raised.
Minister for Roads and Road Safety Luke Donnellan said VicRoads had investigated the proposal, but at this stage, the road did not require electronic flashing signs.
“We will continue to monitor Wesburn Primary School and Warburton Highway and work with their community around any future improvements,” Mr Donnellan said.
Ms Stenhouse raised concern over a sharp bend that is in front of the school, and how road users simply ignore the signs.
“There have been that many accidents on that bend,” Ms Stenhouse said.
“They [road users] don’t see it until they’re right on it.”
Woori Yallock Primary School is also seeking electronic 40km/h speed signs.
Ms McLeish said she had requested the government to update its policy to take into account factors including local weather conditions, the driving of heavy vehicles and the frequency of speeding drivers at both Woori Yallock and Wesburn Primary schools.
“It’s not a one size fits all in this case – especially when it’s about safety,” Ms McLeish said.
“Heavy fog in each locality makes it extremely difficult for crossing supervisors to be seen.
“The combination of heavy vehicles and fog is downright dangerous and should be reflected in the policy, which is currently very city centric.”
The Mail reported in February that three schools in the Dandenong Ranges received electronic speed signs – Mount Dandenong, The Patch and Selby Primary School.
Ms McLeish said the three Dandenong Ranges schools that received the electronic speed signs had less volume of daily traffic than Wesburn, as it is on the Warburton Highway.
Mr Wakeling said safety issues didn’t go away.
“While we think it’s great the three Dandenong Ranges schools have received electronic speed signs, there are clearly more schools, like Wesburn, who need it as well,” he said.
