By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
OVER 300 people have signed a petition demanding better road safety measures in a Hallam street where a car ploughed through a resident’s house last year.
The 327-signature petition is planned to be presented by residents to the City of Casey this week and calls for the installation of traffic calming measures in Hinrichsen Drive, after concerns mounted that the street is being repeatedly used by speeding motorists.
Nearby resident Richard Mortimer, from the adjoining Glencairn Avenue, signed the petition and said cars continually sped through Hinrichsen Drive.
“It’s supposed to be 50km/h, it’s a built-up area,” he said.
“You see a car coming around a bend with a roundabout just up the top, they come through there and before you know it, it’s on top of you.”
Narre Warren North MP Luke Donnellan, who supported the petition along with Holt MP Anthony Byrne, said the City of Casey identified the need for one speed hump on one section of Hinrichsen Drive but had not guaranteed funding.
“Local residents want action on Hinrichsen Drive. There are major safety concerns, especially for kids and the elderly. Motorists need to slow down,” he said.
“We have seen a house smashed into, and families are concerned for their safety thanks to hoons and speeding motorists.”
City of Casey Manager Transport Paul Hamilton said council had a Local Traffic Management (LTM) Program that provided annual funding for the installation of traffic calming devices in roads throughout the municipality.
“The LTM Program assesses and prioritises roads on the need for traffic calming measures based on traffic speeds, traffic volumes and casualty accidents, as well as considering factors such as road geometry and proximity to schools, shops and playgrounds,” he said.
“A report on the LTM Program and review of candidate locations for traffic calming measures was considered by council at its meeting on 7 November 2013.
“The report identified 24 streets including Hinrichsen Drive that met the minimum cut-off score where traffic conditions would warrant consideration of treatments through the LTM Program.”
