WHY DON'T ALL SCHOOL ZONES GET FLASHING LIGHTS?

FROM www.schoolzonelights.com.au

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQM9xthTpxA

This came in my inbox

I sent the email to Peter Olsen for a response and back came

As I said in a reply email to the "Concerned Citizen" if he/she would like to add anything more, I'll gladly post it here.

Why is it necessary to always have a ulterior motive to do anything?

Peter proved his lights at Lurgano and Peakhurst, could do a better job at a fraction of the cost of the RTA's "preferred" over engineered systems.

For undisclosed reasons the RTA has not used Peter's technology.

One question to the "concerned citizen"

Will you show this page to all the people that you have told about how that greedy Peter Olsen is out there "self promoting" and "filling his pockets?"

Your email says " technology given to us"

"US" Do you work for the RTA?

"This new technology was found to be highly visible and effective at slowing people down."

This was said by Rockdale Member Frank Sator on his web site

http://www.franksartor.com/file.php?file=/news/LWZVMMJONT/index.html

He was announcing the installation of two of the flashing light sets at Kogarah that should've been there day one.

A reply to my email(s) emailed the NSW Premier
and they have been passed on. "Firse Base"

My email to the Road Minister 21/11/08 (below) didn't get a result, last Year will it now?

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Dear Minister,
In July last year the RTA installed variable speed cameras at a school zone on King Georges rd Beverly Hills.
Even before the cameras were switched on I could see that because of the length of the school zone and many side streets entering it, that there would be carnage when they were activated, even though flashing lights are at both ends on King Georges Rd.
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After an article in the local paper featuring a group of sad looking motorists holding up tickets I emailed the then roads minister Mr Roozendaal suggesting an extra set of flashing lights opposite Edgbason st to help South bound motorists (and make it safer for children, the whole idea for having school zones)
After 4 unanswered emails, I wrote to the Telegraph and then "coincidentally" an unhelpful reply came from Mr Roozendaal's office two days later.

30,000 infringements in the first three months would indicate that perhaps that more signage would be helpful.
To more easily illustrate the problem at Beverly Hills, I've brought forward the relevant page on my website
www.schoolzonesanta.com
Please have a look
We need road rules and to enforce them, but hammering average, unaware drivers is not the way to go.
More sixty signs and that extra flashing light unit at Beverly Hills, would go a long way in the public relations department.

Thank you for your time.

All the best in handling, what is a difficult portfolio.

Yours faithfully
Hans Stephens

Another 38 school zones are to get flashing lights.

http://www.livenews.com.au/news/more-nsw-schools-to-get-safety-lights/2009/8/9/215522

"These 25 sites have been selected on the basis of strict criteria including crash history and risk, traffic and pedestrian volumes, speed limits and road visibility," Mr Daley added.

It's a shame that a school zone has to have a "crash history."

Maybe at assembly the student that draws the short straw can go out and get that school a bit of crash history to speed up the installation of flashing lights for the surviving students

From Peter Olsen at www.schoolzonelights .com.au

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQM9xthTpxA

The road is a dangerous place

I wrote a post on 23/2/06 about having advertising on school zone signs to pay for them to be fitted with flashing lights.

Why won't the RTA allow ads on school zone signs?

They have advertising on their pedestrian bridges.

Advertising is allowed on street name signs

and new bus shelters are appearing with advertising space that pays for them.

This just finished rather elaborate expensive one, (except for the advertising) outside Stewart Toyota in Waratah st Kirrawee

I asked car salesman if many people used that bus stop?

"I didn't know there was a bus stop, before they built the shelter" he said.

There's another new shelter on Sylvania rd near the Kingsway Miranda

So it appears that you can have advertising to pay for little used bus shelters, but to have a 6 or 7 word company tag on a school zone sign to pay for flashing lights for the added safety of school children, is out of the question.

I emailed the NSW Premier

No reply as yet.......

If I don't get a response, I'll send a letter by post in case the spam email filter at the Premier's office is a bit harsh.

Last week a speed camera in Cleveland st Moore park was featured in the media.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/national/two-speed-cameras-net-7-million-a-year-for-nsw-government/story-e6freuzr-1225756094341

$7 million in fines from 71,288 drivers in a variable speed school zone.

How may of these speeding fines were for outside school zone time "speeding"?

I emailed the Telegraph

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Dear sir,
Tony Morrison of Chifley "In the slow lane" (DT 1st AUG) didn't go to court to contest a speeding fine, because "there's no point as you still loose your points," which is just what the RTA/GOV relies on.
Imagine if all the 71,288 drivers caught in one year by the school zone speed camera in Cleveland street went to court, there would be a backlog for many years.
There is no excuse for speeding in a school zone, but most (as exposed by the NRMA) have instead of flashing lights, inadequate or obscured signage.
How many of the 71,288 speeding infringements at the Cleveland st site were actually in school zone time, or rather were for drivers detected cruising through this area after hours a few kl/mhs over the changed (for that bit of road) speed limit?
Speed camera as a road safety tool have there place but what's really needed on the road to catch the real offenders, are more highway patrol in unmarked cars
Invariably people caught doing ridiculous speeds and other illegal activity behind the wheel, are caught by unmarked police patrols.
Speed cameras are seen by government as handy cash registers on posts, and unlike real police, don't need superannuation, holiday pay, sick pay etc or heaven forbid, demand a fair wage for the difficult job they do.

Regards Hans Stephens
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Headline letter in this morning's paper,

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For "space" reasons my letter has been edited and it appears that although I say there's no excuse for speeding, I ALSO say take your case to court.

I WAS POINTING OUT THAT THE "SPEEDING" FINES COULD MAINLY BE FOR THE 21 "AFTER SCHOOL ZONE HOURS" WHEN THE AREA IS 50 WHEN THE ROADS AROUND IT, ARE A SENSIBLE 60 KL/MH

IF YOU ARE AWARE OF THE SPEED LIMIT IN ANY AREA AND GET CAUGHT TOUGH LUCK, BUT IF THE SIGNAGE IS BAD, OBSCURED, OR SNEAKY TAKE YOUR CASE TO COURT AT LEAST AS A PROTEST