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School ‘driveway hogs’ put pensioner’s life at risk

If you drive your child to and from school, spare a thought for southeast Queensland pensioner Abigail Major who has been trapped in her own home while inconsiderate parents park across her driveway.

A CRESTMEAD pensioner says she has been abused, spat on and threatened by motorists parking across her driveway.

Abigail Major says she also fears for her life because she is trapped in her home and can’t get out for medical attention.

Parents park in her driveway while waiting for their children from nearby Crestmead State School.

But yesterday, Logan City Council said it was on the case and would despatch a special patrol vehicle, equipped with a camera and facilities to issue $87 on-the-spot fines to those parking illegally.

Mrs Major’s unmarked driveway is in a street close to Crestmead State School and a popular pick-up and drop-off zone.

ELEVEN SCHOOLS NAMED FOR BAD DRIVER BEHAVIOUR

Pensioner Abigail Major in her driveway which is often blocked by parents in cars waiting for their children after school. PHOTO: JUDITH KERR
Pensioner Abigail Major in her driveway which is often blocked by parents in cars waiting for their children after school. PHOTO: JUDITH KERR

“I need my driveway free as I have a lot of medical appointments in the morning and I need to be able to get out in the afternoon too,” she said.

“This has been going on for more than two years and I have complained to Logan City Council and to the police but nobody is doing anything to stop it.”

Last week, Mrs Major took matters into her own hands and confronted a car load of people parked across the footpath.

To her alarm, a man got out of the car and spat on her when she told them not to park across her driveway.

Police were called but so far no officers have investigated.

Mrs Major’s driveway woes started about two years ago but recently got worse when enrolments increased at Crestmead State School.

Logan City councillor Phil Pidgeon blamed some of the increase in street congestion on Logan Reserve State School, about 7km away, banning students from outside its “catchment” area.

Logan Reserve State School “catchment conditions” had a flow-on effect at Crestmead State School, where enrolments went up.
Logan Reserve State School “catchment conditions” had a flow-on effect at Crestmead State School, where enrolments went up.

At a council committee meeting yesterday, Cr Pidgeon said it was difficult to crack down on people parking illegally in driveways even with council’s state-of-the-art patrol vehicle.

But an officer said the patrol car, fitted with cameras and automatic number plate recognition, could be put into a “manual mode” so on-the-spot fines could be issued for such breaches.

A report also tabled at the meeting found complaints to council about parking breaches were up 12 per cent on last year, hinting that Mrs Major was not alone in her grievance. Complaints about trucks and heavy vehicles parking on city roads were also up 18 per cent.

“Every school in our city is mapped into our patrol system, which reports back to the office by GPS, so we know exactly where and when the offence is taking place,” an officer said.

The council kicked off a campaign to educate drivers and students about appropriate behaviour, speed limits and where they could park in school zones on January 29.

The start of the Crestmead State School zone where the 50km/h speed limit drops to 40km/h during school hours.
The start of the Crestmead State School zone where the 50km/h speed limit drops to 40km/h during school hours.

Eleven schools in Logan were named for having badly behaving drivers and were patrolled.

Officers said they were “fine tuning” the school zone campaign for the start of Term 2.

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Original URL: https://www.couriermail.com.au/questnews/logan/school-driveway-hogs-put-pensioners-life-at-risk/news-story/f576495d7faac58e4c7312fa82080baa