Why you could be slowed to 40km/h on Portrush Rd: Council considers new school road safety plan

TRAFFIC would be forced to slow to 40km/h on main roads — including Portrush — outside schools in Adelaide’s east under a proposed new safety plan.

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TRAFFIC would be forced to slow to 40km/h on main roads outside schools in Adelaide’s east under a new safety plan.

Norwood, Payneham & St Peters Council is considering asking the Transport Department to enforce the lower speed limits on all major roads — including Portrush Rd, a major freight route — during school drop-off and pick-up times.

But the Transport Department has refused to weigh into the debate, except to say it would “consider” any such request.

The council last week released its draft plan to improve safety outside all 16 schools in its district.

As well as the reduced speed limit, the report — which cost the council $120,000 — suggested installing red-light and speed cameras on all school crossings and the increasingly common countdown timers.

St Joseph’s Payneham principal Laurie Sammut a trial of 40km/h limits was warranted.

“We always look to improve the safety of our children and the families that drop their children off and pick them up,” Mr Sammut said.

“If dropping the speed limit is something that would help improve the safety, then it is worth doing.”

Saint Ignatius College’s junior school head Shaun Fitzpatrick would not directly comment on a possible speed limit reduction but said the school would make a formal submission once it had examined the draft report.

“All initiatives need to be considered for all road users,” Mr Fitzpatrick said.

“We have traffic monitors to help support road safety and we do have students crossing Portrush Rd, which gets busy during peak hours, to get to the bus stop.”

Mayor Robert Bria was interested to see the results of community consultation.

“This is an important review because many of the schools in our council area are in clusters and therefore present a number of overlapping issues and challenges with regards to traffic and parking,” Mr Bria said.

Eastern Adelaide Police would not comment, saying it was a matter for the Transport Department.

Earlier this year, NP&SP Council agreed to spend $60,000 consulting the community on a plan to introduce a blanket 40km/h limit on all council-controlled roads.

Consultation on the draft review into traffic safety around schools closes on Friday, December 18.

A final report is expected by March.

Details: npsp.sa.gov.au