By Ewen McRae
Local MP Catherine Cumming is calling for speed limits on Ballarat Road near Braybrook College to be reduced after a student was struck by a car recently.
Ms Cumming raised the issue in Parliament on March 7, the same day a year 7 student at the school was treated by paramedics after being hit on the busy road.
While the speed limits on the school’s boundary streets (Duke Street and Burke Street) are lowered to 40km/h at either end of the school day, Ballarat Road remains at 70km/h all day, and Ms Cumming said something had to change.
“To drive past the school, and see the whopping 70km/h sign out the front is such an insult,” Ms Cumming said.
“Other areas have the speed limits dropping as you approach a school, drivers are used to that near schools, so why Ballarat Road is treated differently I do not know.
“VicRoads are very quick to blame pedestrians instead of drivers, rather than controlling the situation themselves.
“VicRoads need to come out here during the start or end of school hours and see it for themselves, because one incident is too many when you can do something about it.”
While there is a footbridge across Ballarat Road, the school said the volume of foot traffic at times and the location of bus stops makes for a safety nightmare. College principal Kelly Panousieris said it was only a matter of time before a more serious incident occurred.
“With the bus stop out the front, students waiting there and cars whizzing past at 70, it really is a worry every day for us,” she said.
“We have 1400 students, and probably half use the footbridge to cross Ballarat Road, but kids are kids … so the more we can do to slow down traffic the better.”
VicRoads acting regional director Fatima Mohamed said the current measures were adequate for student safety.
“The Ballarat Road pedestrian overpass, as well as crossings controlled by traffic lights, provide students and parents with the ability to safely cross all sides of the intersection of Ballarat Road and Duke Street when travelling to and from Braybrook College,” she said.
