Humps hitch

By Kelly Yates
CASEY Council will not be installing speed humps on Raven Crescent despite finding about half of the vehicles driving along the Narre Warren street were speeding.
Raven Crescent resident Alan Thwaites made headlines in last week’s News saying he was “fed up” with the number of car crashes on his street.
He has had three out-of-control cars crash through his brick fence within the last 12 months.
Mr Thwaites wanted the council to install speed humps along the road in an effort to stop speeding drivers causing havoc, saying he believed the cause of high crash rate was because of the bend near Fountain Drive.
Casey’s transport manager Paul Hamilton’s report states that council officers conducted a traffic survey between 17 February and 23 February and discovered that the minimum intervention level required by the council to warrant the installation of traffic calming devices were not met.
In the report, Mr Hamilton stated there had not been any reported “serious injury” or “other injury” accidents recorded in VicRoads Crashstats Database on Raven Crescent in the five-year period ending 31 December 2008.
“Officers acknowledge the anecdotal evidence from the residents’ letters and photographs supplied that there have been a number of property damage accidents in Raven Crescent where vehicles have caused damage to residential properties, nature strips and trees.”
Casey Council will carry out minor works including installing warning signs and line marking in Raven Crescent and Fountain Drive, and will inform police at Casey’s Traffic Management Unit (TMU) of the speed survey results.
They will also run a “50 in my street” bin sticker mailing campaign, with Hoon Hotline signs set to be put up at the entrance to Raven Crescent from the Princes Highway service road.
Mr Thwaites said he felt the council’s measures wouldn’t be enough to stop the cars losing control.
“I appreciate they’ve acknowledged the road isn’t an ordinary side street,” he said.
“These may be small things for the council, but for the residents living here and hearing the sounds of cars sliding along the road, it disturbs our peace.”
Mr Thwaites believes accidents will continue to occur along Raven Crescent.