Canterbury College speed demon parents on Transport Dept radar

Speed demon parents at an exclusive southside college have been targeted by the state’s road safety watchdog which has threatened them with hefty fines.

Roads around Canterbury College are 40km/ h but some parents have been clocked at more than 60km/h.

Speed demon parents at an exclusive southside college have been targeted by the state’s road safety watchdog which has threatened them with hefty fines.

Canterbury College at Waterford West, which has more than 1400 students and charges up to $10,700 a year in fees, was sent a terse warning from the state’s Transport’s Road Safety Unit.

The missive told parents “slow down before someone dies” and said speedsters were putting at risk the lives of children and crossing supervisors.

A spokesman from the department said there had been complaints from the school’s road crossing supervisors who said they feared for their lives and the lives of students.

Some parents were regularly hitting speeds of over 60km/h in the 40km/h zone.

The college is not the only school in the area experiencing speeding in school zones.

Parents at Browns Plains State High also complained in May and the roads and access at Cleveland State High were also changed over the holidays to make pick-up and drop off safer.

Road supervisors at the exclusive Canterbury College are fed up with speeding parents.

The road supervisors said they were concerned about having to walk out into traffic on High Rd between large sports utility vehicles near the school drop-off and pick-up zones.

“The complaints were regarding certain parents speeding through adjoining roads during drop-off and pick-up times – especially around the school crossing areas on High Rd,” the Transport Department said.

Cars double parked outside the school

“We are also getting complaints about parents parking on the striped line in the afternoons, especially when it’s really busy, which blocks the school crossing supervisors’ visibility of the road both ways, and creates a dangerous workplace for them and the students they are trying to keep safe.

“They are facing reduced views of oncoming traffic and some of that traffic is speeding over the School Zone limit.

“This dangerous situation cannot continue or someone will get seriously injured or worse in an accident.

“The next step will be getting the police involved where heavy fines will be issued to drivers caught breaking the rules.”

One of the school’s six entrances on High St, which will be part of the redesign.

Parent Melyssa Macready said the traffic situation at pick-up was very dangerous and urged the college to act immediately.

“Cars are parked on the road and blocking oncoming traffic,” she said.

Another, Ashleigh Wallis said the lack of parking was “a nightmare” and said more parking would solve some of the problem.

Canterbury College principal Dan Walker said the school had engaged traffic engineers who had recommended overhauling the school’s six entrances and exits in a bid to make the school safer.

Road pandemonium outside Canterbury College each morning.

Mr Walker said redesigning the entrances and exits would make the three local roadways and set-down, pick-up and carparking areas safer.

“We are now in planning mode to prepare some interim measures to take the pressure off Entrance A on High Road in the afternoons, as part of a whole campus strategy for a new Master Plan that works around our fast-growing school.”

Mr Walker said parents should allow extra time for drop-off and pick-up, and where possible park and wait for their child.