Now we have hard traffic data (see Fact Sheet below) from VicRoads about speeding at the Booran Road pedestrian crossing to prove what the staff, students and parents have known all along – that this is a dangerous crossing. We believe part of the solution is to have a 40km/h limit for the entire school day with electronic speed signs to highlight the speed limit. A few extra seconds on a motorist’s journey is a small price to pay for children’s safety. Please contact the Minister for Roads and Road Safety and your local MP to let them know of your concerns for children using this crossing every day before a serious accident occurs. Please support the safety of our children and send this petition to family, friends, students and colleagues. Fact Sheet Booran Road Pedestrian Crossing Traffic Count 2-8 May 2017 Glen Eira College students, parents and staff have long been aware of traffic dangers near our school. Now there is data to back up our concerns. VicRoads conducted a traffic count near the Booran Rd pedestrian crossing in May and found a significant number of drivers were over the speed limit, even during the designated 40km/h times. This problem is exacerbated by the fact that students are crossing back and forth across this road all day. Each crossing is an accident waiting to happen and we would hate to see a fatality before action is taken. Research shows that death or serious injury to pedestrians increases at speeds above 30 km/h so lower speed limits around schools will save lives. Q. Were vehicles speeding during school zone times? A. Yes. Between 3 and 4pm on school days, 21% of vehicles were recorded travelling over 40km/h near this school crossing. Between 8-9am on school days, 14% of vehicles were recorded travelling over 40km/h. The majority of vehicles observed the school zone speed limit, however, those that did not are a major safety hazard to Glen Eira College students. Q. How many vehicles were speeding during school zone times in that week? A. 1879 vehicles were recorded travelling over 40km/h during school zone times representing “1879 accidents waiting to happen” at this pedestrian crossing during school zone times each school week. Q. How fast were vehicles travelling at other times during the school day when students generally use the crossing? A. Between 10am and 2pm during the school week, 61-77% of vehicles were travelling more than 40km/h. During these times, the speed limit is 60km/h, however Glen Eira College students regularly use the crossing at these times to cross Booran Road for recess, lunchtimes and lessons. 176 vehicles were recorded travelling over 60km/h between 8am and 5pm on those days. The highest speed recorded was 107.6km between 5-6pm. Admittedly, this was out of school hours, but it does illustrate the disregard some drivers have for what is a quiet, leafy suburban street running next to a school. Ruth Gordon, President, Glen Eira College Council and Glen Eira College Parents Association