Held especially during National Road Safety Week, new safety upgrades at the Holy Family Primary School children's crossing has been unveiled.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Parkes Shire Council carried out a number of initiatives from May 8-14 to raise awareness about the importance of safe driving, as part of Yellow Ribbon National Road Safety Week.
Among them was upgrading the existing children’s school crossing at Holy Family in Albert Street.
Students joined Councillor Bill Jayet, council's Road Safety and Injury Prevention Officer Melanie Suitor and representatives from the Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) to officially open the crossing.
The RMS contributed $23,700 in funding for the project, with council crews using five cubic metres of concrete and reinforced steel to construct two blisters in the centre of the road, and two crossing bollards and handrails.
A pram ramp on the eastern side of the school was also constructed and 60 metres of traffic separators and new line marking and signage installed.
Acting network and safety manager at the RMS, Kellee McGilvray said the RMS, council and the school identified a number of safety concerns in the street during school zone times.
“We found many cars doing illegal U-turns right in front of the school, where children were getting dropped off,” she said.
The new separators – the first of their kind in the Parkes Shire – is expected to prevent this from occurring.
“It’s a busy area,” Melanie said.
“This is definitely a high priority job...and we will be monitoring the crossing.”
Cr Jayet – speaking on behalf of the mayor – welcomed those who attended the ribbon cutting outside the school on Thursday morning.
“What perfect timing to do this during National Road Safety Week,” he said.
“Council identified a number of safety concerns at Holy Family Primary School, prompting us to work with the RMS to upgrade the children's crossing to deliver improved safety outcomes for pedestrians and motorists.
“We thank the RMS for its significant contribution towards this project, ensuring the students, parents, and teachers of Holy Family feel safe getting to and from school each day.”
As part of the awareness campaign, council staff pledged their commitment to safe driving by wearing a yellow lapel ribbon and displaying a yellow ribbon on each of their fleet vehicles.
The fountain in Cooke Park also glowed yellow every night last week to promote safe driving in the Parkes Shire.
Now in its fourth year, National Road Safety Week focuses on raising awareness about the importance of safe driving, improving outcomes for those who are vulnerable on our roads and highways, and remembering those who have been killed or seriously injured in road crashes.
