Albany Hills State School and Albany Creek State High School both have boundaries on Old Northern Road which has a 70km/hour speed limit past both schools. This stretch of Old Northern Road was identified as a high accident area and had changes recently made to it including an extended turning lane towards the high school and another set of traffic lights, however no school zone was implemented.

Almost 2000 children attend these schools that are separated by approximately 500m. Traffic accidents are frequent at intersections outside both schools on Old Northern Road. Both intersections have pedestrian lights that are heavily used by students from both schools. Both schools can also be clearly seen from the road. 

At least two families have contacted the Department of Transport and the local MP regarding installation of a school zone to protect our local children over the past 18 months. Over this time we were advised that 1. traffic moves slowly anyway so there is no need, 2. Albany Hills State School does not meet the criteria for a school zone on a dual lane road as it is not visible from the road (contrary to the evidence of the above image) and 3. A review of the regions school areas is underway and the area will be investigated in due course.

Since receiving this response, whilst Qld Transport has been considering the request from community members for a school zone to be implemented, an Albany Creek State High School student was hit riding their pushbike on Old Northern Road to school. 

Fortunately the student hit was not seriously injured - do we need to wait for a serious injury or death of a child before a school zone is implemented on this busy road with a high number of accidents? Families should feel safe to allow their children to independently get to school walking or riding pushbikes on all roads that are immediately adjacent to their chosen school.

This petition will be presented to Qld Department of Transport and the local MP as evidence of community support for a school zone to be implemented on Old Northern Road adjacent to both Albany Creek State High School and Albany Hills State School