Released 26/11/2019 - Joint media release
Infrastructure improvements have been delivered around schools in Canberra to support and encourage students to safely walk, ride or catch public transport. This work complements the school crossing supervisor program which has been shown to have a positive influence on local families travelling to and from school.
“The infrastructure improvements delivered near schools are designed to increase the visibility of crossings, slow vehicle speeds and reduce the distance pedestrians need to cross the road, which increases safety for students,” said Minister for Roads and Active Travel, Chris Steel.
“Improvements have been identified through direct engagement with schools and their communities and include new or improved refuge islands, footpath connections, crossings and speed humps.”
Some of the schools to benefit from recent improvements include:
- Red Hill Primary – children’s crossing improvements
- Majura Primary – children’s crossing improvements
- Canberra Grammar School – new refuge islands and footpath connections
- Harrison School – a raised pedestrian crossing on Nullarbor Avenue
- Mother Teresa School – a raised pedestrian crossing on Mapleton Avenue
- Namadgi School – speed humps at the children’s crossing
- Amaroo School – children’s crossing improvements
- Holy Spirit School – children’s crossing improvements
Additional infrastructure projects to ensure the safety of students have recently been delivered at Horse Park Drive near Amaroo school including an indented bus bay to improve driver sight, a new signalised pedestrian crossing at the entrance to the Amaroo playing fields, fencing in the median strip, removal of the median refuge islands, upgraded signalisation, and a reduced speed limit of 80 km/h to 60 km/h.
The school crossing supervisor program commenced in February 2018 with supervisors at 20 schools to increase safety and to lessen parent concerns around safety, encouraging kids to walk or ride to school.
The evaluation report by First Person Consulting highlighted positive results, including:
- The presence of school crossing supervisors has positively influenced attitudes of parents;
- There are significantly improved perceptions on safety and danger; and
- Supervisors influence parents to allow their children to travel more actively.
“These results show that the school crossing program is working and that parents can feel confident that their kids will be safe as they travel to and from school,” Minister Steel said.
“There will be consideration given to addressing some of the existing concerns noted by parents, such as the safety of their child’s entire route from home to school.”
Minister for Education and Early Childhood Development, Yvette Berry said that it’s great to see this report confirm the positive work crossing supervisors do, and to see more improvements to the crossings themselves.
“The trip to and from school can be a daunting one for parents as kids start travelling by themselves so these improvements to manage traffic and the presence of someone ready to help certainly eases a bit of that stress,” Minister Berry said.
To view the school crossing supervisor program evaluation report, visit www.transport.act.gov.au
- Statement ends -
Yvette Berry, MLA | Chris Steel, MLA | Media Releases
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