By Mara Pattison-Sowden
UPPER Yarra police and schools have had enough of motorists speeding through school safety zones.
Children’s lives are put on the line every morning when drivers accelerate through the 40km/h zones with little regard for the law or their future generations.
More than 200 drivers were stopped at an East Warburton school crossing last Thursday morning and warned about driver complacency in school zones.
Millwarra Primary School’s East Warburton campus is being plagued by speeding motorists, and conditions haven’t improved at Wesburn Primary School since last July (Heed the Speed, 26 July 2011).
Warburton Police Senior Sergeant Tom Wilkinson said last week’s operation, Sam’s Xing, was aimed to change driver behaviour and attitudes towards obeying the speed limit in school zones.
He said the initiative was named after local school crossing supervisor, Sam, who has kept a watchful eye over children crossing the road around the East Warburton campus for many years.
“I’m aware Sam lost a son through road trauma and her passion has impacted on the whole of the Warburton police,” he said. “She’s committed to making it safe for these kids.”
He said Sam and other school crossing supervisors were putting their lives on the line daily to ensure children made it to school safely.
Wesburn crossing supervisor Pam Woodhead previously told The Mail of hair-raising stories of drivers she watches, driving while holding a coffee, eating breakfast or brushing their hair, and drivers she swears “must be driving with their knees”.
Sgt Wilkinson said the education and enforcement initiative was about protecting the local children who were one of the most vulnerable road user groups.
“There’s always lots of chatter about school zones when school first goes back, but people sometimes become complacent as the term goes on,” he said.
“There’s no excuse for speeding – consider this your warning now, we don’t want to hear excuses when we pull you over.”
Sgt Wilkinson said he was encouraged by the drivers’ behaviour the following morning but police still had to issue several warnings.
“I spoke to the school crossing operator today who said there had been a significant change which is good but that’s still a start,” he said.
“People need to be aware the zones are there and plan their day to accommodate it.”
Wesburn Primary School principal Anne Stenhouse said she and other teachers had seen no change in the attitudes of drivers since The Mail raised their concerns last year, but she was pleased to hear of last week’s police operation.
“It’s good to hear that someone realises that this is so important,” she said.
“I grant the fact that when the police are visible people do the right thing, but they can’ do that all the time.”
Ms Stenhouse said she records “near misses” in an incident book in the school, and has done since 2009, “but it’s daily that people speed through there,” she said of the school’s crossing along Warburton Highway.
“I can attest to the fact 80 per cent of the traffic travels at more than 50 km/h let alone the required 40, including logging trucks, motorcyclists, as well as domestic traffic.”
Ms Stenhouse said believed her school could be made safer if there were flashing signs during the 40km/h limit times, but technicalities in the guidelines for electronic speed signs mean the school had not been able to get flashing signs yet.
A reduced speed limit of 40km/h applies in school zones on school days right throughout the year between 8am and 9.30am and 2.30pm and 4pm.
Penalties of up to $611 apply for speeding in a school zone as well as loss of demerit points and/or licence.
