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ABC News
6 days ago
- General
- ABC News
Push to reduce ACT school zone speed limit to 30kph
Just like countless young families across the ACT, Veronica Fortune and her children love walking to school most days. But there are dangers. The biggest one is the volume of traffic at pick-up and drop-off times. Parents, public servants, tradies and teenagers all drive, jam and jostle through the bumper-to-bumper snarl. And just like every road, some motorists don't care about the laws. "I've had a near-miss myself … thankfully, I had my sons in a pram at that time and my daughter was standing right next to me," she said. Veronica said the road past her local school is an accident waiting to happen. She's written to members of the ACT Legislative Assembly and submitted a petition about safety improvements that can be made. "Speed bumps are not close enough to the crossing and we may need more of them. A wombat crossing [raised zebra crossing] … would really help because it would force cars to slow down right before they got to where children are." Veronica has also pushed for adjustments to the surrounding roads, but so far, nothing has changed. The key improvement, according to new research focused on the ACT by a University of Adelaide team, would be to change the rules that govern school zones. Dr James Thompson is a road safety expert based at the Centre for Automotive Safety Research who led the research. He said reducing everyone's speed was crucial, and that 30kph was the tipping point. "But if you're hit under 30 kilometres, you have a pretty good chance of surviving." The evidence the team collected points to a clear recommendation — that the speed limit in ACT school zones should be 30kph or less. South Australia is the only state or territory in Australia that has a sub-40kph school zone limit (25kph) with that being standard practice there for decades. He was surprised during the work by his team at just how many motorists sped through school zones across the ACT, especially during "active" school zone times (36 per cent) and when the default road speed limit was 60kph (50 per cent). Along with installing "traffic calming measures" such as speed bumps and narrower lane widths in all school zones, the report recommends extending the school zone time limits in the ACT. This would mean 7am-5pm Monday to Friday (replacing the ACT's existing 8.30am to 4pm) to protect children at pre- and post-school care, lunchtime and other extracurricular activities such as sport. Dr Thompson acknowledged these would be big shifts, but is unequivocal these moves must be made. "You know, when are we going to start taking the safety of school children seriously?" he asked. The ABC has spoken with several school communities, and they all say speeding traffic in and around schools is a constant danger for pedestrians. The risk is exacerbated by many schools being surrounded by 60 and 80kph roads. Earlier this year, the principal of St Clare's College Dr Ann Cleary led a months-long consultation asking families about road and pedestrian risks that surround St Clare's, with over 200 families making a submission. "That's a huge response, which first tells me parents are really taken by the topic" she said. St Clare's is next to St Edmunds College, which faced near-tragedy earlier this year when two students were seriously injured by a speeding driver while they were walking to school. Both colleges are located next to several roads that pose significant risks to pedestrians. The concerns reported in St Clare's survey were numerous, but those that repeatedly came up the surrounding 60kph roads, bus drop-off/pick-up areas and other hazards within the designated school zone. Dr Cleary believes families would support a 30kph school zone speed limit and extended school zone times, but that the 60kph roads immediately around St Clare's need to be reviewed too. Dr Cleary cited the University of Adelaide research that found "the higher the speed limit outside of school zone times or places, the more likely cars are to speed through the school zone". She also highlighted the need for flashing or electronic signs, to stand out from what she described a "white noise" of road markings and symbols in the area. The ACT government wasn't available for an interview to discuss the likelihood of changing school zone speeds and times (as well as other recommendations in the University of Adelaide report). In a statement, a spokesperson said the "ACT government welcomes the outcomes of the research and will consider future actions as part of the current development of the next ACT Road Safety Strategy". Change can't come soon enough for the people who prioritise children's safety. Dr James Thompson is convinced that ACT residents, and those in other jurisdictions, are ready and willing. "If you explain to them what's at risk and what can be gained by improving the safety of school zones, they would absolutely get on board with it. So it's a funny thing … that we haven't had that change in all the other jurisdictions." Veronica Fortune's desire for change is driven by a simple hope.
BBC News
05-06-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
Jersey States says road safer without central white line
Removing the central white line from one of the island's narrows roads will make it safer, the States has comes as the government carried out a six month trial removing the line on the recently-resurfaced Route de Andy Jehan, the minister for infrastructure, argued that the move would make drivers slow down and "pay more attention to the environment".He was responding to a written question from H.M. Miles of Brelade who requested evidence for the claims, and whether the trial had been approved by the States of Jersey Police beforehand. Space for pedestrians Constable Jehan cited several studies, including the UK's Manual for Streets, as examples of how the removal of the centre line can reduce the amount of risk drivers are willing to said the decision not to repaint the white line after the resurfacing was also in order to create space for pedestrians and to "mitigate a likely increase in vehicle speeds due to the road's resurfacing".In response to the question about whether it was approved by the police, Constable Jehan said: "The Department for Infrastructure is the competent authority in traffic and highway engineering matters."It would not be in line with normal practice to consult the States of Jersey Police about a specific operational matter such as a road traffic trial."Throughout the trial there will be speed checks and site visits, and at the end officials will ask for feedback from the public.
BBC News
05-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Concrete road barrier to protect East Yorkshire school pupils
A temporary concrete barrier is being installed outside a Driffield primary school in an attempt to improve road structure will be placed outside the Driffield Northfield Infant School on barrier will slightly narrow the road and although two-way traffic will continue, "it is hoped this will cause vehicles to slow their speed," East Riding of Yorkshire Council will also be temporarily prohibited from parking along this length of Northfield Road outside the school to prevent further traffic problems, the council added. The council said it is currently investigating a more permanent solution to this traffic issue and will continue to monitor this 20 mph speed signs will also be erected along the Paul West, cabinet member for environment and transport, said: "We have listened to the school and local residents about the heavy construction traffic driving along this road and, although these measures will slightly inconvenience drivers, we need to give greater protection to the school, which is our priority."We want to thank local residents and parents for their understanding while this barrier and restrictions are in place, and we are appealing to drivers to please drive carefully along Northfield Road."Last month the council installed concrete barriers further along Northfield Road and Cemetery to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
BBC News
04-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Safety improvements at busy Stoke-on-Trent junction set to start
Drivers have been warned of six weeks of roadworks to improve safety at a busy city work will begin at the junction of Park Hall Road and Weston Road in Stoke-on-Trent on Monday and is scheduled to last until 18 upgrades will include three pedestrian refuge points, a footpath linking existing bus stops, and a new access road to Park Hall Country follows residents' concerns about pedestrian safety after a number of incidents, including the death of a man who was hit by a car nearby in December 2023. Temporary traffic lights will be in place during the work and access to homes and businesses will be maintained, Stoke-on-Trent City Council Finlay Gordon-McCusker said the junction had been "problematic" for some time and the authority had made the work a priority."There have been a high number of near misses and incidents, including the tragic death of a local resident who died just yards from his home on a walk he had been doing for a many years."I hear frequently from local people about how unsafe the junction is, and I have been to see for myself on a number of occasions," he added. Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
RNZ News
03-06-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
98 road cone reports on hotline's first day
Photo: Photo / 123RF WorkSafe received 98 reports on the first day of its road cone hotline. The 12-month pilot got underway on Tuesday, as part of the government's broader overhauls to health and safety. The workplace relations and safety minister Brooke van Velden has shifted WorkSafe's focus from enforcement to advice , telling the agency to work with businesses and individuals to manage risks. Her letter of expectation told WorkSafe to establish the hotline for businesses and individuals to report excessive road cone use traffic management requirements, with follow-up inspections where necessary. A WorkSafe spokesperson said as at 4:30pm on Tuesday, it had received 98 reports. Van Velden said the road cone policy would be the most "front-facing" that people would see, as most people were not going onto dangerous work sites. She said there were originally suggestions of a road cone phone line, but she went against it and suggested a digital system as it would need fewer resources and staffing. "I want people when they're out on the streets, taking their kids to school or heading to work, to know that if they see a roadcone... it's there for harm. Whereas at the moment, there are so many road cones that people are ignoring them." Transport minister Chris Bishop said the use of road cones was regulated in various ways, but NZTA had a role to play. "NZTA is not responsible for all the roads around the country. They're responsible for State Highways, but often people have road cone issues on local roads, which are the responsibility of the contractor, who's ultimately responsible to the local council, who sets the rules around that," he said. "There's temporary traffic management in place around particular events, which has been and can be quite overzealous." Bishop said there would continue to be cones on the road, as the government had made significant investments in road maintenance. Labour leader Chris Hipkins was not in favour of the hotline. "It's a total waste of time. Ultimately, WorkSafe should be focused on keeping people alive at work, making sure that all of our workplaces are safe, not worrying about road cones."
