More new reported incidents - now with the elderly. Yarraville festival. Send us your videos/photos
Firstly - Please share the petition link, inform locals about the situation and courage them to sign the petition: https://www.change.org/yarravilleroad
AND ALSO make your voice heard on the Official Maribyrnong council "Polka Dot Innovative Road Safety Measure" project feedback page here: https://www.yourcityyourvoice.com.au/polka-dot-road-safety-project
Please vote in the poll they have and also add your comments to the "wall" they have - this is important to ensure your voice is heard!
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Further incidents - Now involving the elderly. Confusion about right of way between Pedestrians and Cars. Gambling with locals lives.
The situation has grown worse - we have now also received further concerning reports by Yarraville locals that there are ongoing situations where pedestrians (especially those who are not local and were not aware about the roads before the Polka dot installations) are not aware about how to interpret the dots (whether they have right of way or if cars have right of way) and start crossing without the usual diligence when crossing. and then in turn there is confusion by motorists who are driving through the village - also questioning if this is to be treated as a Zebra crossing or if they still have right of way, leading to recent near misses.
Pedestrians are now apparently interpreting the dots as meaning they have clear right of way over cars on the roads in these areas - and are walking straight onto the roads, believing cars will stop for them. People are interpreting the polka dots as being a form of pedestrian crossing (like a zebra crossing), when in fact many drivers still interpret they have the right of way in these settings. The council guidance online (on the project page) and even posters on the street do not distinguish any right of way - leading to members of the community open to interpret these dots how ever they wish. A total mess.
One local even observed 5 mature aged (elderly) members of the community following each other across the polka dots - The one by Sun Theatre. They proceeded to walk across the road assuming it was like a zebra crossing and because of this failed to take the usual care in looking at traffic (assuming pedestrians had priority), with a car driving through the setting at the same time who seemed to be unsure, with then both the pedestrians and car having a near miss - as both parties were unclear about the right of way or how to treat the polka dots.
This polka dot settings continue to be a total Pandora's box of issues - something new every week. Initially presenting as primarily a safety risk to very young children who see these settings as play areas, to now an even more serious implications about the confusion about right of way leading to further documented cases of near misses from everyday adults and notably elderly community members.
The council cannot continue to gamble the lives of local residents. Council must take these developments seriously and immediately remove the polka dots. Make your voice heard and make council aware!
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Yarraville Festival
We thank the local community for expressing their view on this important issue at Yarraville festival over the weekend.
At the council tent at Yarraville festival, council workers were conducting a survey asking whether the community would be supportive of a continuation of the trial if it improves the safety (or to that effect) of “all road users”.
The petition makes it clear the polka dots need to go immediately - and this position remains. Any bandaid attempts such as information posters, planter boxes or other infrastructure only seeks to mask the core issue at hand - being the polka dot installations - and may even create a false sense of security in these settings. Any actions other than the full removal of the polka dots is unacceptable and would reflect that council is STILL willing to put the lives of the community at risk (and maintain these hazardous settings) just to continue pursuing this "trial" concept.
The lives of our local community members (especially our most vulnerable) are on trial - That's simply unacceptable.
In our recent petition updates, we have refuted the basis which this trial is based on at substantial basis, with the Auckland installations only delivering a 5% speed reduction of cars. (Refer to our recent updates on the petition page for more details). Also on the council feedback page, a concerned local highlights the heavily deficient evidence base here: https://www.yourcityyourvoice.com.au/polka-dot-road-safety-project/brainstormers/ideas-wall/ideas/37906
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Please send us your photos / video
We are also now encouraging the local community to document (Photo and/or video) if you witness situations (such as children playing on the dots, near misses, people unsure about right of way etc) on/near these polka dot settings and have this sent across us by email here: maribaction@gmail.com
The privacy of people who are emailing across will be kept confidential and the people documented in these settings will have their privacy observed by censoring their faces - and advising media outlets the same etc.
This type of media has proved VERY effective in having documented evidence to reinforce the issues/situations which are being raised. This especially provides greater leverage for the community in having these installations removed and helps cut across especially in the media - to make it clear to council on why this needs to be acted upon ASAP.