By Eleanor Wilson
Parents in Narre Warren North are pleading with Casey Council to fix an “unsafe” zebra crossing near Narre Warren North Primary School.
The crossing, at the intersection of Winters Lane and Main Street has been the site of “many near misses” according to mum Michelle Stuart, who has started a petition asking Casey Council to reconsider situating a school crossing supervisor at the site.
She said drivers frequently fail to stop at the crossing and a school crossing supervisor will help “prevent a tragedy” from occurring.
“The crossing meets two corners, hence making it even more dangerous, as a driver turning left on either side of the road, you are literally on top of the crossing,” Mrs Stuart said.
“I was waiting at the crossing last Friday at 3pm and a car did not even bother to look at all.
“Now I’m a grown woman and if he can’t see me, how can he see a small child?”
Narre Warren North Primary School principal Connie vanderVoort said at least 60 students currently use the crossing on their journey home from school.
“We have a lot more students exiting out of the back gates near that crossing now compared to before Covid,” she said.
“I support what the parents are doing and I think something needs to be done before an accident happens.”
Since the change.org petition was started one week ago, it has been flooded with 684 signatures and dozens of comments from concerned parents sharing Mrs Stuart’s sentiments.
“My grandchildren go to this school, this stop is dangerous. Please don’t wait until someone is hurt to do something about the crossing,” one commenter said.
“Having three children of my own and [living] on Main Street, I agree that a lollipop person would be extremely appropriate there. I have witnessed many close calls and would [hate] for anyone, especially children to be injured there, when it’s a very simple solution,” said another.
Despite the wealth of support for the petition, Casey council said it will not consider introducing a supervisor at the crossing.
Instead, City of Casey safer communities manager Daniel Osborne said the council plans to upgrade the zebra crossing on the corner in question to include a raised pavement.
“The raised pavement will ensure that the approach speed of drivers will be much lower,” he said.
“It’s expected that the works will be implemented during 2022, once Department of Transport approvals have been obtained.”
Mr Osborne added that councils do not provide supervisors at zebra crossings and said there have been no reported injury crashes at the site in the past five years.
But Mrs Stuart, who works full time and worries about the safety of her two children who use the crossing by themselves, said the council’s efforts aren’t good enough.
“All children deserve to be safe whilst leaving school,” she said.
“Why aren’t our extremely high council rates being used for such an important necessity?”
The petition can be found at change.org/p/safe-crossing-for-our-school-children
