In Willarong (South) just off Captain Cook drive Caringbah is a school zone fitted with a set of flashing lights

as you turn right off Capt Cook drive into Willarong the school zone sign is so close to the corner, the flashing lights so high, fitted with shields and although it also has the red cicle lit up, because drivers are busy making the turn, who sees them?

If you turn left from Capt. Cook drive, being are so close to the corner and so high that seeing them is nigh on impossible.

BUT yes you can get a very clear view of these flashing lights if you come across the intersection from Willarong South, BUT THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE, as that road is blocked.

So instead of having this school zone sign and it's expensive flashing unit a bit further up the road where it can be seen,
No doubt it is installed at the "REGULATION" distance from the school and is practically useless.

I will email the new roads minister Mr David Campbell and see if he can get this flashing light unit moved to the Beverly Hills school zone sign (below) where it can do some good.

I have tried previously tried to get flashers there, and emailed Mr Roozendaal and his successor Mr Daly,.... with no result.

The archive page (below) shows my efforts to try and get an extra flashing unit.

http://schoolzonesanta.com/index.php/2008/11/21/beverly_hills_continued

The archive page (above) shows my email to Mr Daly, and all that came back from his office was,

To: stephens1510
Sent: Monday, November 24, 2008 9:34 AM
Subject: RE: Beverly Hiills School zone.

Dear Mr Stephens,

Thank you for your email to the Hon Michael Daley MP, Minister for Roads.

The Minister has arranged for the matters raised to be examined and a response will be provided as soon as possible.

Office of the Minister for Roads

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Mr Roozendaal's office only answered after this appeared in the Daily Telegraph....

The reply said they'd "look into it," and nothing has changed at Beverly Hills.

To be continued

As I told Jason Morrison on 2GB this morning whenever they announce new speed cameras they always say that the money from the fines isn't important, and they wouldn't care if no driver was fined.

To sound even more genuine, revenue from cameras was promised for spinal injury research

It's funny that even when millions are collected from just one speed camera this article was in the Telegraph this morning.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/breaking-news/superman-speed-camera-pledge-broken/story-e6freuyi-1225776080069

Speed cameras are all about safety.... not revenue ????

When I first stood in my Santa suit at the Kogarah school zone and waved my sign (Dec '04)I could see that South st entry to that school zone was a problem

http://schoolzonesanta.com/index.php/2004/12/

Drivers sit at the lights waiting for the lights, then turn right accelerate and flash.

As you turn right your attention is on turning right,looking at at getting around the centre medium strip, not on the school zone.

What is needed there opposite South st is a school zone sign facing South st with... you guessed it,..... "Flashing lights," to remind drivers waiting at the lights of the zone.

How many drivers have been caught after visiting patients at the hospital there and are thinking of a sick friend or relative while waiting for a green.

I have mentioned South st before,

http://schoolzonesanta.com/index.php/2007/01/

Today a customer, a local Kogarah businessman told me he had been caught by the camera recently after coming out of South st.

I will email and see if I can at least get a sign facing South st installed there.

If drivers continue to "speed" there it must continue to be a road safety issue for the school kids.

The NSW road toll is 63 higher than this time last year

http://livenews.com.au/news/speeding-targeted-after-nsws-horror-road-toll/2009/9/2/218099

So the answer it seems is more speed cameras

http://www.smh.com.au/national/mobile-camera-plan-to-cut-nsw-road-toll-20090724-dw63.html

Mobile speed cameras will slow drivers down but there also needs to be more highway patrol in unmarked cars, because cameras don't detect drugged, drunk, or unlicensed drivers.

The president of the NRMA, Wendy Machin, said a highly visible police presence was the best way to lower speeding. "Receiving an infringement notice in the mail a week or two after the fact is not an effective speeding deterrent," she said.
..................................................................

IT was announced that we will get another 48 highway patrol in NEXT year's budget.

What's new, this is from Hansard 2007

"The Minister for Police seems to be in denial. He is almost parrot like in his statements to the House about how he will give us an extra 50 highway patrol police. His own superintendent, the man in charge of road safety in New South Wales, says he wants 400 officers, and clearly we need those 400 officers."

http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/PARLMENT/hansArt.nsf/V3Key/LA20071205029

Fixed speed cameras don't need superannuation, holiday pay, sick pay and that's why they are the preferred option.