School Zone Flashing Lights and Pedestrian Safety
Page: 2365
Mr MICHAEL DALEY: My question is to the Premier. Will the Premier update the House on the Government's efforts to improve safety for children around our schools?
Mr MORRIS IEMMA: I thank the member for Maroubra for his interest in child safety. This morning, with the Minister for Roads, I announced that the Government will undertake a $46.5 million investment over the next four years to improve safety around schools for our schoolkids. Flashing lights in school zones will be implemented to protect our children going to and from school. These flashing lights have been trialled and I can report a very successful result in getting drivers to slow down in school zones. When they do that it means our children are safer.
The results of the trial show, for example, that the time difference when travelling at 50 kilometres an hour and 40 kilometres an hour in a 200-metre school zone is four seconds. How much is that worth when it comes to a child's life? Is that four-second saving worth a child's life? The answer is no, and that is why we are rolling out this program, which will be funded by the additional 50 speed cameras that we have started to install in and around school zones across New South Wales. Over the next four years we will install 400 sets of flashing school lights. That is in addition to pedestrian overbridges at schools, raised crossing thresholds, the supervised crossing safety program and security fences . The Government is taking these additional measures to provide greater safety and security for our children at schools during the 8.00 a.m. to 9.30 a.m. period and the 2.30 p.m. to 4.00 p.m. school zone operation.
The SPEAKER: Order! I call the member for Coffs Harbour to order.
[ Interruption]
The SPEAKER: Order! I call the member for Coffs Harbour to order a second time.
Mr MORRIS IEMMA: The 400 sites will be selected on the basis of their location, the traffic accident history, traffic volumes, traffic speeds and student population. They are the five factors that will be taken into account.
The SPEAKER: Order! I call the member for Clarence to order.
Mr MORRIS IEMMA: Road transport safety professionals will undertake those assessments, and that will form the basis of the location of the 400 sets of flashing lights. The lights are part of a comprehensive package to provide for greater security and safety for our children going to and from school. The one and only priority is protecting our kids.