School Zone Santa .Com

If flashing lights are used widely used then drivers would be "desensitized" said Mr Micheal Dalley MP NSW roads minister at Peakhurst this afternoon.

Minister Dalley (on right) and Mr. Peter Olsen.

2GB's Chris Smith asked the new roads minister to have a look at the flashing lights that Peter Olsen had installed at four schools in the Peakhurst/Lurgano area.

One of the numerous road ministers we have had in recent years said that all schools in NSW would get flashing lights.

I didn't get that impression this afternoon.

I can't see it happening purely because of the horrendous cost involved, if the RTA insist on using their preferred overpriced overenginerred flashing light systems.

Flashing lights at school zones are there to help drivers to know when it's school zone time.

Mr Harold Scruby who also is always good for a soundbite on road safety (as Kyser Trad is on anything Muslim) came to have a look, talked about the way clever lawyers would fight cases in court, as they do with speed cameras and extolled the virtues of the RTA's lights.

What's court got to do with it.

Put up Olsen style lights (or similar cheap reliable technology) at school zones, and if drivers still speed when the lights are working, have Highway patrol with camera mounted radar with a photo of the offending vehicle, logging the time, speed and with the flashing lights in background.

"Book 'em Danno"

As it is now, once the smarties know where fixed speed cameras are, by Sat/Nav, Tom Tom or experience, they slow down only at the camera, but as Highway Patrol are mobile and should be in unmarked cars, they are more effective at catching the real menace on our roads.

A set of Peter's lights lights in action

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OLSEN SCHOOL ZONE FLASHING LIGHTS

- Eight sets of Olsen lights have operated for the past two years with 100% reliability. RTA lights average 98.2%. (Morris Iemma media release 26/9/07 p.2 para. 11)
- No need for expensive back-to-base monitoring because of their reliability. RTA lights have back-to-base monitoring but regularly take up to a week to fix when they fail.
- Olsen lights reduce average speeds by 50% more than RTA lights. See: http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/roadsafety/downloads/finalreport_flashinglights_2006.pdf p.vi para.1 and p.65 para.7. (Olsen lights are Type 1, RTA lights are Type 3).
- Olsen lights have GPS receivers in them to obtain current time from satellites giving them sub-second accuracy. RTA lights do not.
- Olsen lights are twice the diameter of RTA lights (200mm vs 100mm).
- Olsen lights are angled to face the traffic for maximum brightness. RTA lights point straight down the footpath and are often barely visible.
- Olsen lights cost $350 + installation per sign vs. $58,000 per sign for RTA lights.
- Could be installed at every school zone in NSW for the cost of the RTA?s current roll out to just 4% of school zones. (Allowing $2,300 per sign including installation).
- Mr Olsen has no commercial interest. Technology given to the RTA to use for free.
- Mr Olsen wants RTA to issue a new tender for lights, maximum price say $5,000 including installation. No back-to-base monitoring or other unnecessary bells and whistles. Lights to be installed at all school zones in NSW.

Peter Olsen
13/55 The Grand Pde
Brighton-le-Sands 2216
peter@peterolsen.com.au
www.schoolzonelights.com.au
9599-1811
0414-538-404
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I gave the Roads Minister a copy of the email (further down page) I sent a couple of weeks ago and tried to explain the situation at Beverly Hills.

He said he couldn't do anything as it is the RTA that works out the needs for different locations.

I thought he as the Minister responsible for roads he would have some say if a concerned citizen had an sensible issue.

Then maybe a repeater set of flashing lights at this school zone at Beverly Hills which is over a kilometer long with proven problems isn't warranted.

The RTA never gets it wrong, except maybe for a minor miscalculation about numbers of vehicles that would use the cross city tunnel, the M5 East has a couple of issues I believe, the Lane Cove Tunnel......but they are right at Beverly Hills.

I'll wait a while to see if the the "as soon as possible" reply to my email does come from the Minister's office.

To be continued...