“FARCICAL and utter nonsense”.
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Those were the words used by Leeton Shire Council mayor Paul Maytom when describing the lack of flashing lights on Main Raod 80 near Yanco Public School.
Councillor Maytom was also disgusted at apparent revenue raising by highway patrol officers to book drivers in the speed zone on Main Road 80, which in recent months has only been classified as that and had signage installed.
News came through this week that the zone on Main Road 80 would indeed receive the lights. Cr Maytom was relieved.
“I’m 100 per cent behind road safety,” he said.
“We pushed and pushed to have this area classified as school zone, not just the area along Cudgel Street and in front of the school. However, these flashing lights should have been installed from the start.
“There’s been many unsuspecting residents that have been booked … I do see highway patrol vehicles there often … it’s revenue raising.
“Drivers coming in from Leeton may have slowed down to something like 55km coming into Yanco, but if that’s in a school zone and they haven’t noted the time and there’s not flashing lights, they are actually doing 15km over the speed limit. Police view this as a serious offence.
“The flashing lights should have been installed when the signage went up to alert motorists to the fact that area was now classified as a school zone.”
The stretch of road has had numerous speed zone changes to ensure safety of Yanco Public students. It was once a 60km/h street, but through a push from the school and Cr Maytom it was reduced to 50km/h.
The school’s P&C and Leeton Shire Council also had to lobby more than once to the Roads and Martime Services to include Main Road 80 as a school zone. The busy thoroughfare is often used by children to cross the road before and after school.
Yanco Public School P&C secretary/treasurer Nyree Dunn said the area was more safe now thanks to the school zone.
She too believed flashing lights would further increase student safety and make drivers more aware that they were approaching the area.
“The signs have been in place for about four months now … I do think it is safer, but flashing lights would improve it event more,” Mrs Dunn said. “The signs (for Main Road 80) was something we pushed for for a long time.”
Mrs Dunn said there had been some near-misses in the area in the past and urged drivers to pay attention.
“Before we had the signs up (on Main Road 80) by husband was dropping our three children off and all three of them were almost hit by a car,” she said.