One mother’s close call at a dangerous Whittlesea intersection has led her to collect more than 1000 signatures in a bid to make it safer.
Kris Richmond was walking across Plenty Road near Whittlesea Primary School when she was nearly struck by a car.
“It was an inch from my body,” she said. “If I’d had my pram with me, I would have lost my children.”
The close encounter prompted the mother of four to petition Whittlesea council to install traffic lights at the busy intersections of Wallan and Plenty roads, and Macmeikan and Laurel streets.
“The [Plenty Road] crossing is too busy for children,” Ms Richmond said. “I’ve seen kids crossing the road and, instead of stopping, cars swerve towards the stockfeed yards.”
Along with the school council, Whittlesea Primary School principal Bente Stock tried to have traffic lights installed almost five years ago. “But of course, nothing happened because there hasn’t been a fatality there,” Ms Richmond said.
So far, 1052 people have signed the petition. It has also been endorsed by federal McEwen MP Rob Mitchell, who described the intersection as traffic chaos.
“The intersection is one of the main entry and exit points for the students, parents and teachers of Whittlesea Primary School, and many are fearful of the unsafe conditions,” Mr Mitchell said.
School crossing supervisors at risk
He said the safety of school crossing supervisors had also been put at risk. One supervisor now suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder after nearly being hit by a car.
Ms Richmond says she’s so traumatised she can’t go near Wallan Road without crying. Following receipt of the petition, council officers are preparing a report to be tabled at the council’s April 5 meeting.
VicRoads’ metro north-west acting regional director Bryan Sherritt admitted safety improvements were needed at the intersection. He said VicRoads had been in regular talks with Whittlesea council about taking a number of short-term safety measures.
“These improvements may include upgrading signage, line marking and closing a break in a central traffic island on Wallan Road,” he said. “As a longer-term solution, we are also investigating the potential of installing traffic lights or a roundabout at the intersection.”
