There are people that enthusiastically start on a well intentioned mission, and after a while the whole idea becomes too hard, and they do what everybody expects them to do, give up and fade away.
Not our Peter Olsen, he knows what he is doing he is right. He has proved that cheap effective flashing warning lights can be installed at school zones.

The RTA thought he would go away.

From the Newcastle Herald.

.........................................................................

Hunter parents sick of waiting for school lights
BY ALISON BRANLEY
29/04/2009 4:00:00 AM

HUNTER parents fed up with waiting for the State Government to install flashing lights outside school zones are paying to install their own sets.

Minmi Public School this week became the first school in the region to have lights independently installed in time for the start of term two.

The move has been backed by the Parents and Citizens Association Hunter Council, and other schools are expected to follow Minmi's lead.

Earlier this month it was revealed fewer than one in 10 Hunter school zones was fitted with flashing lights to alert drivers of the 40 kmh speed limit.

Parents and Citizens Association Hunter Council member Clarice Hamling took up the cause after growing frustrated with attempts to get flashing lights at schools.

She got the signs from a Sydney firm and secured support from Newcastle and Maitland councils.

The signs read "check speed" and have flashing lights, but are not official RTA signs.

LIFE IN THE SLOW LANE: Clarice Hamling, Jodie Cartwright and Emily, 9, and Evan Clarke, 8, below the new lights installed near Minmi Public School yesterday.- Picture by Kitty Hill

Schools wanting to install the signs must get permission to erect them on nearby private properties as they are not allowed to use RTA land.

Parents at Minmi Public School were keen to get the signs after the RTA said the street outside their school was not busy enough to qualify for them even though it is a main road.

The school also has a crossing just over the top of a blind crest that is used by many of its 116 students.

Trucks regularly travel the road to and from a coalmine and quarry.

Parents and Citizens Association president Jenny Clarke said drivers would drive past at more than 60 kmh, even though outside the 40 kmh zone the limit was 50 kmh.

"There have been many near misses," she said.

The NSW Government has promised 400 sets in NSW over the next four years, including nine in the Hunter.

Schools with inquiries can phone: 0419 601 322.

From the Fairfield City Champion. ( 8/04/2009 )

" PETER Olsen is a man on a mission to light up the lives of drivers passing schools.

The 51-year-old grandfather, a former computer programmer, is working towards reducing the number of road accidents in school zones in the area by having set up 11 flashing signs for motorists passing school zones.

They are at Fairfield West and Canley Heights public schools on the Cumberland Highway, Bossley Park High School on Prairievale Road, and Cartwright and Green Valley primary schools in the Liverpool area. And Mr Olsen would like to install another five.

The lights have been funded by Brydens Law Group, Liverpool, whose staff had read about Mr Olsen's work in other Sydney suburbs."

" An RTA spokesman said such lights would not have cost the RTA $1.5million and they did not meet standards.

They were too small, could be obscured by shrubbery, are difficult to see from the road, run off a power cord from private homes, carry only a single message, do not alert motorists to school zones."
___________________________

Well Mr RTA spokesperson if you swallowed your pride and use the technology that Peter gave you for free, the same technology that has worked flawlessly for years at Lurgano/Peakhurst schools keeping the kids safe, then he wouldn't be doing your job.

This is a Olsen flashing light set working in Peakhurst.
NB. the cars's brake lights.

Of course the lights Peter is installing now are on private property, and for the best effect need to be on the school zone signs, but the RTA would send 10 blokes in three trucks to tear them down as they did before, untill adverse publicity and 2GB's Alan Jones got involved.
................................................................................

"could be obscured by shrubbery," is one reason to rubbish Peter's CHECK SPEED lights.

From this website archives 16/01/07

"This one with the young trees in front (which will only grow bigger), hide this even more expensive flashing light set, and on the road divider is, you guessed it, another sign, highly visible from way up the road.( even back as far as Park St.)

A close up of this sign is a couple of pages back

What can I say.
......................................................................

The RTA did solve the above obscuring tree problem, they took an axe to them very soon after I mentioned it.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

The RTA is moving from Surrey Hills to North Sydney and are spending a reported $1,000.000, yes 0ne million on new chairs.

news.ninemsn.com.au/national/800608/rta-spends-23-million-on-office-move -
_______________

Peter Olsen askes a question in today's press realease

_______________

MEDIA RELEASE

20 April 2009

WHAT YOU CAN GET FOR $1,000?

one of these.

or one of these.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Last December Peter Olsen said to the Roads Minister that he would put up his warning lights at school zones and true to his word in sun and rain he is doing just that.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Campaigner shines light on road safety

BY JIM GAINSFORD St George and Sutherland Shire Leader
15/04/2009 4:00:00 AM

SCHOOL Zone lights campaigner Peter Olsen has installed a set of his homemade school zone flashing lights outside Brighton-Le-Sands Public School at the request of the school's P&C.

The lights have been installed on private property at either end of the school zone in Crawford Road so they can't be removed by the RTA.

P&C president Chris Lloyd said the school community felt more secure now the lights had been installed.

"The lights will alert drivers that they are entering a school zone and to take care,'' he said.

"That's all we ask.''

Mr Olsen has also installed 11 sets of his lights in the western suburbs and has orders for another 10 sets.

He also has orders from Newcastle and Lismore.

"In St George I've got approval from home-owners to install the lights on private property at each end of the school zone on Bay Street Brighton, at West Botany Street, Rockdale, and at Forest Road, Arncliffe.

"I'm now looking for sponsorship from local businesses of $1000 per sign.

"Once installed they will cost the grand total of 70 cents per year to run which covers electricity and maintenance.''

Mr Olsen said his original signs at Peakhurst and Lugarno had been running for more than two years with zero maintenance cost and 100 per cent reliability.

"The RTA has said its lights cost $13,000 each but they are spending $46.5million for 400 school zones equalling $58,000 per sign.''

An RTA spokesman said it prioritised locations for flashing lights on a risk basis based on crash history, prevailing speed limit, existing road safety measures and the visibility of the school from road.

``RTA flashing lights have been evaluated and selected for reliability and effectiveness and have a back to base component that immediately notifies the RTA of failures therefore reducing the potential risk to students,'' the spokesman said.

Businesses can sponsor Mr Olsen's school zone flashing lights by contacting him on 0414538404 or at www.

schoolzonelights.com.au.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

From today's Telegraph

ICAC probes RTA's corruption

A STRING of senior RTA executives, including former CEO Les Wielinga, were named in a NSW Ombudsman report which has been referred to the state's corruption watchdog.

Google "icac railcorp" too, and see how our taxes are wasted there, and see my "Railcorp waste" category for a bit of Cronulla mismanagement of taxpayer funds.

An email from Bill,

----- Original Message -----
From: "Bill"

Sent: Tuesday, March 31, 2009 9:52 PM
Subject: Olsen Lights at Fairfield West

>
> Hi Santa
>
> Not sure what you and Mr Olsen are doing here.

> I have a close relationship with the incident at Fairfield West Public School yesterday and I am concerned that you may not be telling everybody the complete truth about Mr Olsens fabulous "lights".
> I went out to see Mr Olsen install his lights today (as he promised)and there was no sign of him all afternoon. I really wanted to meet him and discuss his ideas.
> Are these lights actually installed in the areas that he stated in his release or is this another media hype?
> The only person I saw all day was an RTA fellow who was very wet from standing in the rain watching the traffic and making notes.
>
> At least the RTA made an effort to turn up and investigate what had happened to the child yesterday.
> I think for the moment, I'll stay with the RTA flashing lights. They seem to actually care about the public. Mr Olsen was nowhere to be seen today despite his media statements and promises.
>
> This messages was sent via the email form on your blog.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thanks for your email Bill.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
You wrote "Not sure what you and Mr Olsen are doing here." assuming perhaps that Peter and I are out to gt into the public purse, far from it, we're into common sense

I reason I dressed up a in a Santa suit at school zones, was to try an publicise the need for flashing lights at school zones to help make drivers aware of WHEN it's school zone time.

The fact that that the school zone variable speed cameras at Kogarah made $6.5 million in one year (2003/2004) in fines, proves something wasn't working.

I stood in my santa suit morning and afternoon at the Kogarah school zone all February '05 (see archives) willingly, and again at that bullshit school zone at Beverly Hills, at my own cost to prove a point.

Peter Olsen saw that the RTA was spending millions on a few fancy flashing lights units, and he proved AT HIS OWN EXPENCE in Lurgano and Peakhurst, that he could do the same job (slowing drivers in school zones) at a fraction of the cost of those used by the RTA.

By the way I would assume the RTA man you mention taking notes yesterday was being well paid for his time.

Why do something like taking notes in the rain AFTER an accident, put up cheap lights at all schools and help PREVENT accidents.

No that's too easy.

Peter installed flashing lights at five schools originally, which the RTA tore down, only then being forced to leave up when Alan Jones had the roads Minister Mr Roozendaal on his show.

The style of lights working at Peakhurst, the technology Peter Olsen gave to the RTA, that they won't use for some reason.

Peter proved that lights don't have to cost millions to do the same job as cheaper versions.

Peter gave the technology at no cost for the RTA to use, but I have a suspicion that because Peter embarrassed the RTA in having to leave them at the Lurgano/Peakhurst schools, they won't use his idea on principle.

So the RTA is putting up their over priced, over engineered lights (see about Category "about faulty flashing lights") at 100 schools a year so that means at that rate my great great grandchildren might see the last school in NSW get them.

I say might, because our current Roads Minister said that "too many flashing lights desensitize drivers."

I was there when he made this statement at Peakhurst Dec.08

Even though Peter wasn't there yesterday, there would be a good reason, rest assured that he is only trying to make school zones safer for kids and better for drivers, not to line his pockets.

I'm sure if you email Peter see www.schoolzonelights.com.au he'll answer any questions you have.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Update April 2
An email from Bill

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Original Message -----
Sent: Thursday, April 02, 2009 4:13 PM
Subject: Re: Olsen Lights at Fairfield West

Thanks Hans

Good talking with you.
I'll have a look at Peter's website as well.

Bill