The school crossing for Quarry Hill Primary is currently unsupervised.

Children, some as young as 4 years old are crossing Peel Street by themselves.

Unfortunately, some motorists have no respect for unsupervised crossings.  It is a daily occurrence to see cars not stopping even though young children are crossing.  In addition, many cars are observed travelling in excess of the speed limit (40 km/h).

Eventually a child will be hit by a car.  It is not a matter of if, it is a matter of when.  The consequences are simply too dreadful to contemplate.  Lives will be shattered.

Young children have not developed the skills needed to cross roads by themselves.  According to Kidsafe:

• Children are vulnerable road users. Anywhere where there is a potential for moving vehicles is a potentially dangerous traffic situation for children. This includes residential areas, car-parks, at traffic lights, along footpaths, pedestrian and other crossings, driveways, quiet streets, and busy streets.
• Many children below the age of 10 years do not have the capability or judgment to handle many pedestrian situations. Children need to be accompanied and closely supervised by a parent or adult carer to keep them safer. 

(Reference:  http://www.kidsafensw.org/road-safety/pedestrian-safety/

When a request for a crossing supervisor was made to The City of Greater Bendigo, the council advised that Peel Street is not sufficiently busy to justify a crossing supervisor.  We respectfully submit this to be a spurious argument.

It only takes one car to severely injure or kill a child.  Traffic volumes are simply not relevant.

We respectfully request that the City of Greater Bendigo immediately provide a crossing supervisor.