Cross about council's call

WARWICK State High School's Mark Wheeldon said creating a shared zone and reducing the speed limit was not enough to fix the road woes in front of the school.

Warwick State High School

WARWICK State High School (WSHS) P&C president Mark Wheeldon said creating a shared zone and reducing the speed limit was not enough to fix the road woes in front of the school.

"We were after a solution to the problem," he said.

"Ideally a designated crossing would have been better.

"If it is a just a sign it is a waste of time."

Concerns have been raised over the council's decision to create a shared zone at WSHS, with some saying a pedestrian crossing would have been the safer option.

As reported this week, Southern Downs Regional councillors decided to extend the shared zone along Palmerin St to the Victoria St roundabout in an attempt to improve safety for students.

But Mrs Kools Driving School owner Gail Lobley, who regularly picks up students from the school for lessons, said the council had made the wrong decision.

"A pedestrian crossing would have been the safer option," she said.

"It would have to be in the right place as well, not near the roundabout."

Mr Wheeldon said in order for it to be of benefit the shared zone would need to be similar to the situation in the CBD.

"There needs to be a designated shared zone crossing like between the town hall and the shopping centre," he said.

"We need refuge islands put through the middle."

SDRC engineering director Peter See said because it was only a trial no median strips or crossing points would be put in.

"The difference will be in slower speed limits and an expectation that traffic will give way to pedestrians with a reasonable approach as per the law," he said.

AG Licensing instructor and Warwick and Districts Road Safety Association secretary Andrew Gale said the option was a good compromise.

"We support the change... but we would like to see the council tell people what a shared zone is," he said.

The council advised there are several rules in a shared zone.

The first is; a pedestrian who is crossing the road must cross by the shortest and safest route possible.

A driver in a shared zone must give way to any pedestrian in a shared zone and a pedestrian must not cause a traffic hazard by moving into the path of a vehicle.

The Daily News' story on Wednesday about the council's decision has also gained much attention online.

"The existing shared zone operates without too much conflict between pedestrians and vehicles; although too many motorists don't have any idea they need to give way," Sean Hegarty commented.

"Up near the school though there is no narrowing of the street to help to encourage lower driving speeds - not to mention that the average age of those crossing the street is much lower."

Originally published as Cross about council's call